"كتيّب سوريا (بما في ذلك فلسطين). لندن: إدارة استخبارات الأركان البحرية، يونيو ١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎٢‎٩‎٢] (٧٣٨/٥٨٩)

578
HAURAN AND JAULlN
previously were deserted have been reoccupied and the popu
lation of many others has been nearly doubled. Difficulties
of transport previously crippled the industry, and in years
of heavy crops much grain was allowed to go to waste.
The Circassians of northern Jaulan having their centre at
Quneiterah, show greater enterprise than the fellahin, and
have reclaimed considerable areas of that stony district.
They have also established wagon tracks for communication
over Jaulan and ‘Ajlun. This part of Jaulan, however,
remains in the main what it has always been, a grazing
country. The hay stacks seen in every Circassian village
are a feature of the locality. The southern part of Jaulan is
stoneless and adaptable to cultivation, the soil being of the
same rich quality as that of the Hauran plain.
In J. ed-Druz there are fine valleys of rich lava soil on
which cereals of a high quality are raised. Throughout the
mountain, especially on the southern slopes, numerous stone
fenced fields, now largely fallow, bear testimony to the
former agricultural value of the country. On these slopes
vines were at one time extensively cultivated. The mountain
is well watered in some parts, but in general, perennial water
is scarce. The eastern slopes and the plain at the base bear
fine pasture much frequented by the Bedouin.
The comparatively small areas of El-Leja which are under
cultivation, produce small quantities of wheat and barley and
some pasture. To the east of El-Leja there are partly culti
vated arable tracts, but most of the land is under pasture.
The chief crops of Hauran are wheat, barley, maize and
dhura, the quality of the first-mentioned being famed through
out Syria and even in Europe, to which a large quantity is
exported. The agricultural possibilities of the region are great
and, under an enlightened government, the industry could be
greatly extended.
The administrative area of the sanjaq of Hauran as given
by Cuinet is considerably greater than the area of Hauran
and Jaulan as here assumed, but the annual yield of the sanjaq
from agriculture is probably only a little greater.