The Coolidge examiner., 1937-09-02

[ Prepared by National Geographic SOCltNg'
Washington. ID. C.-WNU Service.
DETRA, silent city of the
L forgotten past, halfway
between the Dead Sea and
the Gulf of Aqaba, eXerts a
magic spell upon the minds
of those fortunate enough to
know it. It's single and weird
approach, through a deep
rock cleft more than a mile
long; its temples, numbering
nearly a thousand, cut into
the living rock of stupendous
cliffs and showing Babyloni-
an, Egyptian, Greek and
Roman influence; it's high
places, courts, libation ba-
sins and altars where the
ancients worshiped; its amaz-
ing color, the work of Nature
lavish with ocher and all
shades of red-all these are
mysterious, enthralling.
THE rose-red city, half as old as
time" has history that began long
before histories were written. Near
it have been fond worked fints Of
the Late Chellean period, millenni-
ums before recorded dates.
It's first written history is fond
in the Bible; for the land about it
was Mount Seir of old (now Esh
Shera, home Of the Horites, cave
dwellers whose progenitor was Hori,
the grandson Of Seir. These Horites
are first mentioned at the time Of
Abraham in connection with the
subjugation of the land by Chedor-
laomer.
For centuries Petra was a rich
caravan city, veritable crossroads
Of the ancient world. The Arabian
peninsula was a network of caravan
routes, over which passed the prod
ucts Of Africa. Arabia, and India
to the valley Of the Nile, Palestine.
Phoenicia. and the Euphrates-Tigris
valley.
Deserted When Rome Fell.
Goods were brought to Petra for
storage and for trans-shipment in
every direction. So important was
the city that the Romans built two
roads to tap its wealth. When Rome
fell. however. its doom was sealed.
Abandoned save for a few desert
tribesmen, who lived miserably in
its caves, as some Of them still live,
Petra passed from the notice of the
outside world, remaining in oblivion
for more than thousand years.
In 1912 the Swiss traveller, John
Lewis Bruckhardt, disguised as a
Bedouin sheik. reached it and re-
turned to tell Of its mysteries. It
had then become sacred ground to
the Arabs, and danger menaced any
infidel who approached it.
In the century after Burckhardt
few explorers attempted to visit it.
Not, indeed, until after the World
war was it accessible to any save
the most intrepid; and even now Wis
protection of armed guards. With a
comfortable camp' for accommoda-
tion of guests during the summer
months, Petra at last is open to Sc
rious travellers.
The trip from Jerusalem to Petra
and back once required about a
month of arduous caravan travel
through country infested with law
less Bedouins. Construction of the
Mecca railway from Damascus to
the sacred city of Medina was a first
step toward opening the country,
and later highway from Jerusa-
lem to Ma'an and a smooth dirt
road from Ma'an to Eli brought
motor vehicles within two miles of
the ancient city. Airplanes, too, now
carry passengers to Ma'an. bound
for Petra.
When the British cleared the way
for automobiles between Ma an and
Eli, the Bedouins rose in open re-
volt, complaining that the road
would deprive them of their income
from renting saddle animals to
Petra visitors.
Warfare ensued, several persons
Of both sides losing their lives. After
the government had crushed the re-
bellion by armed force, the Bed
ouins received assurance that the
road would not be extended beyond
Eli, and that their horses and
mules would be hired under govern.