Pharpar (or Pharphar in the Douay–Rheims Bible ) is a biblical river in Syria . It is the less important of the two rivers of Damascus mentioned in the Book of Kings (2 Kings 5:12), now generally identified with the Nahr al-Awaj , also called Awaj (literally, 'crooked'), although if the reference to Damascus is limited to the city, as in the Arabic version of the Old Testament , Pharpar would be the modern Taura. In the early Baedeker Guides it was identified as the Al-Sabirani, a fairly downstream tributary of the Awaj. The stream runs from west to east, flowing from Hermon south of Damascus, and like its companion Abana River travels across the plain of Damascus, which owes to them much of its fertility. The river loses itself in marshes, or Lakes of the Marj , as they are called, on the borders of the great Arabian Desert .
15-772: John MacGregor , who gives a description of it in his book Rob Roy on the Jordan , affirmed that as a work of hydraulic engineering , the system and construction of the canals, by which the Pharpar and Abana were used for irrigation , might be considered as one of the most complete and extensive in the world. In the Bible, Naaman exclaims that the Abana and Pharpar are greater than all the waters of Israel (2 Kings 5:12). 33°25′N 36°08′E / 33.417°N 36.133°E / 33.417; 36.133 This article about
30-594: A dragoman , Hany, and two retainers who maintained the various base camps on the journey. He visited the Nile Delta , the rivers of Damascus , as well as parts of the River Jordan and Kishon River . Whilst exploring the water courses above Lake Hula he was taken prisoner by villagers from Al-Salihiyya who lifted both him and the Rob Roy canoe out of the river whilst he kept them at bay with his paddle. He
45-560: A location in Damascus Governorate , Syria is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to a river in Syria is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . John MacGregor (sportsman) John MacGregor (24 January 1825 Gravesend – 16 July 1892 Boscombe , Bournemouth), nicknamed Rob Roy after a renowned relative , was an English explorer, travel writer and philanthropist. He
60-586: A talent for mathematics. He was known by his peers for his strong Christian faith and although he had aspired to be a missionary and also considered civil engineering, his scientific interests led him to London to study for the Bar, specialising in patent law. During his time in the capital, he became heavily involved with philanthropy and was instrumental in launching the Ragged School movement's Shoeblack brigade. He also became involved with open air missions and
75-675: Is generally credited with the development of the first sailing canoes and with popularising canoeing as a sport in Europe and the United States. He founded the British Royal Canoe Club (RCC) in 1866 becoming its first Captain and also founded American Canoe Association in 1880. MacGregor worked as a barrister in London, and was an accomplished artist who drew all the illustrations in his travel books. MacGregor
90-598: Is located in a harbourside building at Falmouth in Cornwall, England . The building was designed by architect M. J. Long , following an architectural design competition managed by RIBA Competitions . The museum grew out of the FIMI (Falmouth International Maritime Initiative) partnership which was created in 1992 and was the result of collaboration between the National Maritime Museum , Greenwich and
105-810: The National Small Boats Register (NSBR). The Museum manages the National Small Boat Collection, which came from the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, in addition to its own collection of Cornish and other boats. Famous boats on show in its collection include: The museum is the country's premier museum for boats and maintains the National Small Boat Register (NSBR) of small boats (under 33-foot) and invites owners of historic craft to register them. Three galleries are devoted to
120-535: The Northern American kayaks , but built in Lambeth of lapstrake oak planking, decked in cedar covered with rubberised canvas with an open cockpit in the center. It measured 15 feet long, 28 inches wide, nine inches deep and weighed 80 pounds (36 kg) and was designed to be used with a double-bladed paddle. He named the boat Rob Roy after the celebrated Scottish outlaw of the same name, to whom he
135-542: The former Cornwall Maritime Museum in Falmouth. It opened in February 2003. It is an independent charitable trust and, unlike other national museums, receives no direct government support. Its mission is to promote an understanding of boats and their place in people's lives, and of the maritime heritage of Cornwall. It does this by presenting the story of the sea, boats and the maritime history of Cornwall. It maintains
150-431: The maritime history of Cornwall. These cover topics such as Cornish fishing, trading, boatbuilding, wrecks and emigration. The Falmouth gallery also tells the story of: The museum has a programme of annual exhibitions including titles such as: There is also a programme of temporary exhibitions, talks and activities. The museum has a waterside café overlooking the harbour, a shop, space for temporary exhibitions, and
165-409: Was also able to follow his passion for travel. In 1849 he spent nine months exploring southern Europe, Palestine and Egypt . He was introduced to canoeing during a trip to the United States and Canada in 1858. MacGregor was a champion marksman but turned to boating when a railway accident left him unable to hold a rifle steady. The boat he designed was a 'double-ended' kind of canoe inspired by
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#1732790544497180-644: Was born in Gravesend to Major Duncan MacGregor, a Scottish soldier, and Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir William Dick, Baronet of Prestonfield . When he was four weeks old, he was amongst the survivors of the sinking of the Kent . His schooling followed his father's postings, and he attended The King's School in Canterbury and Trinity College in Dublin . He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge , having shown
195-497: Was internationally successful; with subsequent books and public appearances, it earned MacGregor more than ten thousand pounds. Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson 's 1876 voyage by canoe through the canals and rivers of France and Belgium, published in 1878 as An Inland Voyage , used "Rob Roy" canoes. Died 16 July 1892 in Bournemouth . National Maritime Museum Cornwall The National Maritime Museum, Cornwall
210-599: Was related. During the 1860s, he had at least seven similar boats built and he sailed and paddled them in Europe, the Baltic and the Middle East. One of those canoes is now based at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall . The version he used for his expedition to Egypt, Syria and Palestine in 1868/69 was slightly smaller but was designed so that he could sleep in it. He was accompanied by
225-482: Was responsible for the first scientific survey of the area. In 1866, he published A Thousand Miles in the Rob Roy Canoe , which popularised the design and, more importantly, the concept: "in walking you are bounded by every sea and river, and in a common sailing-boat you are bounded by every shallow and shore; whereas, ...a canoe [can] be paddled or sailed, or hauled, or carried over land or water" . The book
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