REMARKS ON THE
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water, when their own springs failing, they are obliged to approach
the perennial sources of the Loehf.
The Arabs of the Djebel Haouran are the shepherds of the people -
of the plains, who entrust to them in summer and winter their
flocks of goats and sheep, which they pasture during the latter season ¬
amongst the rocks of the mountains. In spring the Arabs
return the flocks to their owners, who sell a part of them at Damascus, ¬
or make butter from the milk during the spring months.
The Arabs receive for their trouble one-fourth of the lambs and
kids, and a like proportion of the butter. Casual losses in the flocks
are borne equally by both parties.
The following are the different tribes of the Ahl el Djebel;
Esshenabele, El Hassan, El Haddie, Ghiath, Essherefat, Mezaid,
El Kerad, Beni Adhan, and Szammeral. Of those of the Ledja I
have already spoken. The Ahl el Djebel are always at peace with
the other Arabs; but those of the Ledja are often at war with the
Fehily and Serdie. I come now to the second class, or wandering
Arabs.
In May the whole Haouran is covered with swarms of wanderers -
from the desert, who remain there till after September; these
are at present almost exclusively of the tribe of Aeneze. Formerly
the Haouran was often visited by the Sherarat, from the Mekka
road, at fifteen stations from Damascus; by the Shammor, from
Djebel Shammor, and by the Dhofir from the Irak country. On the
arrival of the Aeneze, the resident Arabs who may happen to be
at war with them, conceal themselves in the neighbourhood of the
western mountain or in the Szaffa, or they retire towards Mezareib -
and Szannamein. The Aeneze come for a two-fold purpose,
water and pasturage for the summer, and a provision of corn
for the winter. If they are at peace with the Pasha they encamp ¬
quietly among the villages, near the springs or wells : if at
