CHAPTER XII.

MOAB AND AMMON.

KIR-MOAB. (Kerek.)

AR OF MOAB-RABBATH-MOAB.

MOUNT NEBO-WADY WALE-PLAINS OF MOAB

RIVER ARNON-DIBON-AROER.

MEDEBA.

HESHBON-ELEALEH-BAAL-MEON.

RABBAH, OR RABBATH-AMMON.

FULFILMENTS OF PROPHECY.

BROOK JABBOK.

"IN the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence."-Isa. xv. 1.

[For the prophecies against the lands of Moab and Ammon, see the following chapters :-Isa. xvii. 2; Jer. xlviii., xlix. 2; Ezek. xxi. 20, 28, &c.; xxv.; Zeph. ii. 9.]

"The town of Kerek is built upon the top of a steep hill, surrounded on all sides by a deep and narrow valley, the mountains beyond which command the town. In the valley, on the west and north sides, are several copious springs, on the borders of which the inhabitants cultivate some vegetables, and considerable plantations of olive

trees.

The principal of these sources issues from the rock in a very romantic spot, where a mosque has been built, now in ruins; this rivulet turns three mills. The town is surrounded by a wall, which has fallen down in several places; it is defended by six or seven large towers... the town had originally only two entrances, one to the south and the other to the north; they are dark passages, forty paces in length, cut through the rock. At the west end of the town stands a castle, on the edge of a deep precipice. It is built in the style of most of the Syrian castles, with thick walls and parapets, large arched apartments, dark passages with loopholes, and subterranean vaults (and was probably built by the Saracens to defend the town against the Crusaders).

"Kerek is inhabited by about 400 Turkish, and 150 Christian families. . . The place is famous for the hospitality of its inhabitants, and is filled with guests every evening. The following remarkable custom furnishes an example of their hospitable manners :-It is considered at Kerek an unpardonable meanness to sell butter, or to exchange it for any necessary of life; so that, as the property of the people chiefly consists in cattle, and every family possesses large flocks of goats and sheep, which produce great quantities of butter, they supply this article very liberally to their guests. If a man is known to have sold or exchanged this article, his daughters or sisters remain unmarried; for no one would dare to connect himself with the family of a seller of butter, the most insulting epithet that can be applied to a man of Kerek. This custom is peculiar to the place. "Kerek is the see of a Greek bishop, who visits his diocese every five or six years.

"The people of Kerek cultivate the plains in the neighbouring mountains, and feed their cattle on the uncultivated parts. The produce of their hills is purchased by the Bedouins, or exchanged for cattle. A caravan departs every two months for Jerusalem, with sheep, goats, mules, hides, wood, and a little madder, to

sell. In return they take coffee, rice, tobacco, and all kinds of articles of dress, and of household furniture.

"The houses of Kerek have only one floor, and three or four are generally built in the same court-yard. The roof of the apartment is supported by two arches, over which thick branches of trees are laid, and over the latter thin layer of rushes. Along the wall at the extremity of the room, opposite to the entrance, are large earthen reservoirs of wheat. There is generally no other aperture

in these rooms than the door, a circumstance that renders them excessively disagreeable in the winter evenings, when the door is shut, and a large fire is kindled in the middle of the floor.

"Some of the Arab tribes in the territory of Kerek pay a small annual tribute to the sheik of Kerek, as do likewise the peasants who cultivate the shores of the Dead Sea.

The district of Kerek comprises three other

villages, which are under the orders of the sheik. There are, besides, a great number of ruined places in the district. The mountains about abound with shells, and some of the rocks consist entirely of small shells. The horses of the inhabitants of Kerek are excellent; the sheikh had the finest I had seen in all Syria; it was famous all over the desert."-BURCKHARDT.

AR OF MOAB.

SCRIPTURE NOTICES.

"THE Lord spake unto me, saying, Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day."-Deut. ii. 17, 18; ver. 9, 29.

"In the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence."Isa. xv. 1.

"The ruins of Rabba, the ancient Rabbath Moab, are about half an hour in circuit, and are situated upon a low hill, which commands the whole plain. There are many remains of private habitations, but none entire. A temple, two reservoirs, several cisterns, an altar, and many fragments, are the principal remains of the ancient city.

"We were surprised to find no traces of walls about it. We passed the night at a small camp near the ruins; it is the only Christian camp we have ever been in; they told us there were, altogether, five encampments of Christians. They were poor people, but connected with families in Kerek: occasionally they take their turn in the town, and send others to take their's in the camp. A deep gully behind their tents led to the Dead Sea. In very early times this was the Ar of Moab, mentioned in the Old Testament."-BURCKHARDT, IRBY AND MANGLES, ROBINSON.