The Coolidge examiner., 1937-09-09

TRANS-JORDAN is a little
country. Separated from Pal
estine by the great valley Of
the Jordan, the Dead sea,
and Wadi ell ARABIA on the west. it
is hemmed in by the Levant states.
Iraq and Arabia. 1t is British
protectorate ruled by his highness
the Emir Abdullah Ibn Hussein, son
Of the late King Hussein Of Hejaz
and brother of the late King Feisal
Of Iraq.
A little fringe along the Jordan
and Dead sea depression is fertile
because of perennial streams. 9th
erwise all is waste 1t is e rolling
plateau desert. mostly composed of
white chalk and sandy soil. Flint
chips and Jumps of basalt are wide
ly scattered.
There are no rivers. The Bedouin
gets his water from ancient rock
cut water cisterns. from pools that
collect in the wadi beds in winter.
or from deep wells.
After winters of abundant rains
and SHOWS. the valleys and wadies
may be lush with vegetation and
aglow with wild flowers. In sum-
mer the whole desert is parched
and dry. Scorching hot during the
day, it is often bitterly cold at
night.
Camel herders and shepherds who
pass the night in the open, with only
an old coat to sleep in, complain of
the temperature changes. So did
Jacob when he said, I'm the day
the drought consumed me, and the
frost by night" Genesis 31:4O.
The Bedouin inhabitants of Trans
Jordan are divided into three
classes: the peasant farmers who
live in villages and cultivate the
soil; the seminomads who live in
tents and have flocks and farm
lands; and, lastly. the true Bedouin
nomads, who live off their flocks and
herds and migrate over long dis
tances, even into the depths of Ara
bia proper.
Wells Are Valuable Possessions.
All three classes look like true
Bedouins and speak the same dia-
lects, wear the same style of cloth
ing, eat the same food, and share
the same traditions. But the nomad
Bedouins look down on the other
classes and call them fellahin
farmers). 1t is this wandering
tribe which is told about here.
Most vital in a desert country is
the preservation of water sources.
Wells are priced possessions. None
but the owner tribe may draw wa
ter from them. Disputes over the
use of wells have led to many a
tribal war.
When Abraham's wells were
seized by enemies, he had to pro-
tect himself with a covenant of pos
session. And Abraham reproved
Abimelech because of well of wa
ter, which Abimelech's servants had
violently taken away" Genesis 81:
25).
Around the wells at watering
times scenes are enacted which take
one back thousands of years to the
life of Bible days Youths and men
lead up their herds of camels. Some
times hundreds of animals that have
gone without water for days will be
waiting in line for drink.
With leather buckets and long
ropes, two almost naked men draw
water, chanting their weird, monot-
onous melodies and calling to the
camels to drink. Herders keep the
animals back, allowing only one
or two at a trough at time.
In these deserts where camels are
the chief wealth, girls tend the
goats. Shepherdesses often have
hard time watering their f1ocks.
Camels are always favored. And
when the camel herders come in
from their waterless fve-day graz
ing periods, the girls and their focks
get particularly inconsiderate treat
ment.
Digging of a New Well.
Not long ago a traveller observed
an unusual event-the digging of a
new well. He greeted the patriarch
who was supervising the work with
"Gowak" (the Bedouin salutation
BETTING such an occasion), which
means Strength may Allah give
thee"
"Gweet," was the prompt reply,
Strong have l become"
Two stout youths were digging in
the well bottom, which was not yet