out that ǧ is to be read like g in gem, š like sh, ž like z in azure, č like ch in chief, j like y in yoke. ʻ is a strong guttural sound. The remaining symbols need not trouble him.
Throughout this work most of the Biblical names have been transliterated consistently with the scheme of transliteration employed for Arabic names. The forms, hence, are often somewhat different from those found in the King James version, but the latter may readily be ascertained by reference to the Bible itself. When the transliterated form of familiar Biblical names differs very widely from that of the King James version the latter is in some cases indicated in parentheses.
References to the Bible are to Rudolf Kittel’s second edition of the Hebrew text, Leipzig, 1913. The reader will observe that occasionally these references are at variance with the text of the King James version. These variations are due to the fact that my interpretations of the meaning of the original Hebrew sometimes diverge from that of the translators of the King James version.
Bibliographical references in the footnotes are given in abbreviated form. The full references, with the dates of Arabic and ancient authors, will be found in the Bibliography, pp. 335—340.
The meaning of the majority of Arabic terms used in the text will be evident from the context. The following terms, however, are frequently employed without explanation:
šeʻîb (plural, šeʻibân): relatively small watercourse or valley occupied by an intermittent stream.
wâdi (plural, wudijân): relatively large watercourse or valley occupied by an intermittent stream.
wâli: governor of a Turkish vilayet or province (Arab. wilâje).
mutaṣarref: governor of a Turkish sanjak (Arab. mutaṣarrefijje or liwa’, subdivision of a vilayet).
ḳâjmaḳâm: governor of a Turkish kaza (Arab. ḳaḍa, subdivision of a sanjak).
mudîr: governor of a Turkish nahiyeh (Arab. mudîrijje or nâḥije, subdivision of a kaza).
ḳâḍi: judge, magistrate.
Arabic botanical terms which appear in the text are listed in the index with brief characterization and Latin equivalents as far as they have been determined.
A sketch map showing the author’s route and indicating the pages in this volume in which the different portions of his itinerary are discussed accompanies the volume.
