The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-11-25
prepared by the National Geographic So
cisty. Washington. d. c.


~ YRIA, where France has had
small war on her hands in ad,
~ ton to the medium-sized war
Morocco, has been described
lacking , past"-that is, a crucib
Of events that would have served
fuse her many races and religion
Various parts Of Syria have had mob
moments, but as a whole 1t has nevt
been more than subject land, witt
out the unity or natiOnalism whic
once burned so brightly In the breast
OF its Pnoenicians and Israelites, HI
tiles and Amorites.
Syria closes the east end of tn
Mediterranean and is bounded on tn
north by the Taurus mountains. Tn
Syrian and Arabian deserts limit fur
ther settlement to the east and south
But In connection with world com
merce 1t has always been closely re
lated to the fertile valleys of the Nil,
and the twin Mesopotamian rivers, ane
Its commercial life of tomorrow can
not BE- divorced from that of Mesopo
tamia.
The Turk robbed Syria of greatness
for BOO years. Then came De Lesseps.
When he opened the Suez canal the
world thought that Syria would hence
forth be a wallfower among the ma
lions.
But, while the world ignored her
and the Turk plundered her, Syris
knew that her day of glory was sure
to come East and West called to each
other across the land link of history's
chain and the Germans started the
railway that was as inevitable as fate.
following as 1t does the greatest trade
route the world has ever known. How
Germany overreached herself is now
familiar to all. Various factors de-
layed the Inevitable reopening of the
historic trade route across Syria and
Mesopotamia.
Much Of Syria Very Fertile.
Good government and the nomad arc
mutual enemies. Each has its day in
districts whose poverty or prosperity
depends upon whether water, which
he abundant crops of the most fertile
valleys must have, is utilized or goes
o waste.
syria may seem on the whole desc
ate, but 1t Is important agriculturally.
rom the northern border of Pales-
Inc, just north Of Haifa, its narrow
oastal plain is extremely fertile, grow
ng citrous and other fruits and gar
en- truck. Around Damascus mill
on or more acres are under cultiva-
on, much Of 1t irrigated, and produc-
lg abundantly. Many other irrigated
asses contribute their quota to Syria's
gricultural yields, while in numerous
valleys rain Is sufficient TO
AXE Irrigation unnecessary.
The most extensive agricultural re-
on lies where one might expect to en-
'unter a desert, on top of the plateau
lst Of the northern continuation OF
e Jordan depression. This is the
auran plain where live the Druses
Gently in arms against France. If ia
level plain of ehocolate-colored earth I
rmed from volcanic rock, and ex. [
smely fertile. 1t is some forty miles
width and about seventy miles long, S
tending In the north to Damascus
lie Hauran Is the great grain coun- 1
OF Syria. Under stable govern a
INT conditions and with good apri- b
Itural practices and implements. this y
zion could furnish more than enough a
for all Syria. Even under
Turks the Druses of the Hauran .
re fairly prosperous, and during ;,
World war the Turkish commits. :,
y paid good gold for Druse grain ,,
'cably testimonial to the Drnse,s =
lity. often proved. to defend him. 6
I. .
II the southeastern edge of tha =,
uran, and at the extreme soutbaas, :,
corner Of the French mandate tor :,
Try as well, lies the Jebel ed-Druvo ~
he mountain Of the Druses-a great
teau OF volcanic rock approximately 10
miles In diameter This .bas =,
n a sort Of huge Druse citadel for ~
turtles. to which the Druses have ~
red when hard presSed BY their y
mics. This natural Rampant win ~
canyons and valleys ,nd difficpit 81
ain. has been thor> in the side 4,