1st. day. The Emir el Hadj leaves the town about mid-day, and remains
the night at Kubbet el Hadj el Azeli [Arabic], an ancient mosque at a
quarter of an hour from Bab Ullah or the southern gate of Damascus. Near
the Kubbe lies the village of Kadem [Arabic].
2. At four hours is the village of Kessoue [Arabic], with a well
provided Bazar. One hour Khan Denoun [Arabic], situated on the river
Aawadj [Arabic], which comes from Hasbeia and empties itself into the
Ghouta of Damascus. The Khan is in ruins. At a quarter of an hour to the
S.E. from it lies the village of Khiara [Arabic].
3. Four hours from Denoun is the village Ghebaib [Arabic]; it has a
small Khan to the left of the Hadj route, to the right of it is a Birket
or reservoir of water, which is supplied by the river Shak-heb [Arabic],
whose source, Ain Shak-heb, with a village called Shak-heb, lies to the
N.W. of Ghebaib. In that source the barbers of Damascus collect leeches
[Arabic], The Shak-heb loses itself in the plain of the Haouran, after
having watered the gardens and Dhourra fields of Ghebaib. Three hours
farther the village Didy [Arabic]; one hour farther the ruins of a town
and castle called Es-szanamein [Arabic], where there are two towers
built of black stone, still remaining. The Fellahs have a few houses
there. An hour and a half farther a hill with a small Birket at its
foot, called El Fekia [Arabic], containing a source which loses itself
in the eastern plain. The Hadj passes the night sometimes here, and
sometimes at Szannamein.
4. At four hours from Szannamein is a hill called the hill of Dilly
[Arabic], with a ruined village at the top. At its foot flows a river
whose source is at Tel Serraia [Arabic], a hill two hours W. of Dilly,
likewise with a ruined village. The river works a mill near Dilly. In
winter and spring time the district of Dilly is a deep bog; at four
hours farther is a village [p.657] called Shemskein [Arabic], of
considerable size, and in a prosperous state. Three hours farther is
Tafs [Arabic], a village, ruined by the Wahabis in June 1810. One hour
farther is El Mezareib [Arabic], with a castle of middling size, and the
principal place in the Haouran next to Boszra.
5. At one hour from Mezareib is the Wady el Medan [Arabic], which comes
from the Djebel Haouran. In winter time the Hadjis were often
embarrassed by it.
