Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-08-22
Arab. Of the Desert in Their city Costumes.

Through all the cycles OF TINE, the
Arab has changed least OF all Those
of the town play their chess in the
evening, as they have in quiet homes
for hundreds Of years. The Arabs
claim they invented chess.
The Bedouin rides in from the des-
ert, smokes his nargileh, drinks the
cups Of bitter coffee, and gallops out
again into the void. AS the seasons
change, he folds his tents and moves
with his herds of goats and camels.
SO long as the statesmen of Europe
want to pay him for their pleasure
In calling this or that portion of the
desert kingdom, it matters little to
him. He knows nothing of maps and
cares less. Should they attempt to
make him pay, it would be different.
Kingdom making would not be so
easy.
Emir Abdullah Ibn Hussein Is the
nominal ruler of Transjordania. His
court is the same as that of his fore
fathers-a cluster of tents in the des-
ert, which he moves with the seasons.
BY automobile it is only FIVE hours
from Jerusalem to Amman, but it is
a change from the West to the East,
and there are not many travellers on
the road. Visitors are not generally
welcomed in Transjordania. 1t is the
threshold of Arabia, and once across
its borders the law and authority Of
Europe are of the f1imSiest.
An automobile can coast almost the
entire distance from Jerusalem, along
the steep hillsides, down into the val
ley of the Jordan. There is a glimpse
of the Dead sea on the right, and the
road turns straight across the plains
toward Jericho.
AS one rides through that simmer
ing breathless valley, 1000 feet be-
low the level of the sea, the heroism
of Joshua when he commanded the
sun to stand still is impressed with
sitting force The farther end Of the
iron bridge across the Jordan is bar
ricaded and guard of soldiers stops
the car. Unless word has been tele-
phoned from the tented capital out
side of Amman that visitor in Eu-
ropean clothes Is to be permitted to
pass, the car goes no farther.
From the river the road climbs out
of the broiling valley to the higher
fertile plain. In winter Abdullah
moves his tents and royal court here.
near the Jordan, though he seldom
crosses into the British mandate. To
hold his people, he must play the
role of the desert Arab.
Caravans of camels, shifting in
alarm at the automobile, which the
visitor of today is likely to use, jog
along the road. Every man carries a
long black-barreled rifle sticking up
back of his ears camel drivers, peas
ants working in the little fields, and
even the boys watching the herds of
goats on the hills. Transjordania is
of the desert, where everybody is his
own policeman.
Recently workmen have been leis-
urely clearing away the rubbish from
the Roman amphitheater. Abdullah'
does not hope to restore it as in the
days when shouting multitudes
watched the games on the banks of
the little creek, but the dirt and rub
bish which now cover its battered ar
tistic beauty will be removed.
Similar excavations will be made in
the even larger ruins of Meshetta, a
few miles from Amman Other work
men are widening the streets and
building roads in the country.
Area Only $1,000 Square Miles.
Amman is station on the HedjaE
railroad, much used between Damas-
Gus and the South. However, the
country has few funds for internal
improvements, and the eternal con-
fiict with the desert Is hopeless. Its
area is only 10000 square miles, with
population of 100000 exclusive OF
nomads
The annual budget amounts to ST.
100000 against revenue of 100000.
Great Britain makes up the differ
ence, one Of the many donations to-
ward maintaining an Arab policy.
Transjordania is a haven for the
eX1leS ana IugltlVes from all the near
by territory. Under cover Of night,
they slip away from Damascus and
other cities in the French mandate,
cross the desert with the assistance
of friendly tribes, until the long camel
journey brings them into Transfer
| DANA.
Amman and the larger city Of Es-.
Salt are full Of men who have cheat
ed the already-oyercrowded French
prisons. Few of them have abundant
funds; all must be provided for.
They are part of the brotherhood;
| poets, merchants, editors. army OH
GERS, students lawyers, and men and
women from every walk Of life make
! nm th> S...ss--a &c