The Jordan Valley and Petra . edge of the desert, and the safeconvoy of the pilgrims yearly has been a difficultmatter to arrange. For some forty years or more,the government has found bakhshish the mostpotent weapon, and every year a sum of onehundred thousand pounds has been distributedamong the tribes who line the route. As thegovernment has gradually strengthened its posi-tion in Damascus, it has coveted the rich landseast of the Jordan, and has slowly extended itshold on the highlands, by building fortresses andoccupying ancient sites with garrisons. Irbid (Ar-bela) was seized some thirty
The Jordan Valley and Petra . edge of the desert, and the safeconvoy of the pilgrims yearly has been a difficultmatter to arrange. For some forty years or more,the government has found bakhshish the mostpotent weapon, and every year a sum of onehundred thousand pounds has been distributedamong the tribes who line the route. As thegovernment has gradually strengthened its posi-tion in Damascus, it has coveted the rich landseast of the Jordan, and has slowly extended itshold on the highlands, by building fortresses andoccupying ancient sites with garrisons. Irbid (Ar-bela) was seized some thirty years ago. ThenSalt and Madeba fell. Kerak held its own semi-independence until twelve years ago, and Shobekfell only four years ago. About that time the gov-ernment hastened to stretch a line of telegraphfrom Damascus through this eastern hisfhland, andon southward to Medina and Mecca, making itsoccupation more easy and certain. In 1864, when Russia conquered the Caucasus,rather than remain in subjection to that power, the.
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