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September 30, 2016
Is there truth to the Bedouin Legend of the Great River in the Desert?
Apart from the oral legend itself, the evidence for an ancient river in the desert is persuasive. Firstly, the earliest maps of the Arabian Peninsula clearly show two major rivers draining the Rub al Khali, one flowing north into the Persian Gulf, the other south into the Arabian Sea. Although drawn in the 15th century, these maps were based on one by Ptolemy made around 150 AD, so essentially reflect the situation 2,000 years ago.
| Ancient Origins
Posted by gerardvanderleun at September 30, 2016 7:23 PM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
Probably one of AD's few commenters who's been to the Rub al Khali. Early '60s got diverted from a routine cargo run to haul rations and supplies under the UN flag from El Arish in the Gaza to Polish UN troops at Najran Saudi Arabia. The Polish/UN troops were trying to hobble rebels trying to overthrow the Yemeni government (sound familiar). I did other stuff in the ME back then that makes today's stuff look like a remake of an old movie with new hardware, except back then the US wasn't trying to butt in. By the way, for protection the UN gave the crew nifty blue baseball caps and a small UN flag to put in the flag holder above the cockpit window. Don't know whatever happened to them. Hadn't thought about them in years.
Posted by: BillH ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://americandigest.org/sidelines/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 1, 2016 7:52 AM
CORRECTION: RE. "I did other stuff in the ME...." Should have said, "I saw some other stuff in the ME...." I didn't do anything but fly air cargo in those days. Should know better than to comment before my second cup of coffee.
Posted by: BillH at October 1, 2016 11:17 AM