File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎16v] (41/834)

of raiming water ; but no trees or buildings. The Arab garrison
consists of some 450 men with two mountain guns and two machine
guns; the troops are mostly Meccans and looked to me of very
poor quality, of bad physique and badly clothed ; but the officers
appear confident of their fighting qualities. The Bedouins here
have offered great assistance in picketing the hills, but mostly
appear to take orders from the Syrian officers and pay but little
attention to the local sherif.
Jaafar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and myself rode out to Gebel Um Semouga,
about three miles south-west of Delagha, and from this point the
Turkish positions of Abu Lisal and Um Rega were plainly visible
at a distance of about four miles. The strength of the force at
Abu Lisal is estimated at a tabur (about 700 to 800 men) and a
company (about 200) mounted troops. Their actual strength in
mountain guns is not known, but there are certainly two of these,
which constantly open fire on the Bedouins at extreme range.
The garrison of Um Rega is estimated at a company of infantry
and some mounted troops. It is situated about five miles north
of Abu Lisal and on the main Gueira-Busta road.
From Delagha to Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Musa, via Tieyieba, the distance is
about twenty miles, the road for the first two miles following the
main Maan-Garandil road ; then it branches north and follows
the slopes of a high mountainous range overlooking the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
Thabra and the M r adi Tieyieba. The whole of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Arabah
and the country west of it are plainly visible, and the scenery is
magnificent. The track is impossible for anything except pack-
animals and even for these progress is slow. It could never be
made fit for motor-cars or wheeled traffic. There is much culti
vation on the slopes of the hills and a considerable number of
stunted cedar trees grow on the western slopes. There is a
plentiful supply of water along the road at Um Rajif, where there
are ruins of an old Roman village and a large cistern, about seven
miles noith ot Delagha. There is also plenty of water at Fieyieba
and in Ain Ainub. All through these mountains there are
numerous springs, known only to the Bedouins. Tieyieba con
sists of about twenty-five to thirty mud houses. Jaafar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
was greeted enthusiastically by the‘inhabitants who all expressed
their loyalty to the Arab cause. The inhabitants live in desperate
fear of the Turks and with some reason, since they have no pro
tection except their own pickets on the hill tops, and the Turkish
position of Ain Bust a lies only six miles to the east.
From Tieyieba to Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Musa is about seven miles The
w a '!- i V! e 7 dH ® c , ult; aiKl llhlst be at least 4,000 feet above the
\\adi l habra. I here is a spring at Ain Ainub four miles north
O-f iieyieba, where are also ruins of an old village. From this
point the road begins to descend into the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Musa. Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
ilusa, or Fiji, lies on the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. bed which is about a mile wide
at this point. It is surrounded on all sides by high mountains
and all approaches are easy for defence. At the same time the