CHAPTER II 



Arabia, and Some of the • 

 Bedouins 



A T THE northeastern comer of the 

 •^^ Mediterranean Sea, just below the 

 point where the southern coast of Asia 

 Minor joins the western coast of Syria, 

 lies the town of Scanderoon, the ancient 

 city of Alexandretta. This is the seaport 

 for Aleppo, ancient Haleb, about one hun- 

 dred miles to the east and a little south, 

 for centuries a trading centre whence go 

 caravans of merchandise to the towns far 

 down the [Euphrates, and where are 

 brought the grains and wool that come in 

 return. Almost due east of Scanderoon, 

 about five hundred miles distant, is Mosul, 

 on the River Tigris, which from this point 

 flows south and a little easterly about four 

 hundred miles till it joins the Euphrates 

 near Bussorah, the two rivers thus joined 



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