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Instant Download Ebook PDF Financial and Managerial Accounting 7th Edition by John Wild PDF Scribd
Instant Download Ebook PDF Financial and Managerial Accounting 7th Edition by John Wild PDF Scribd
As we roll out the new edition of Financial and Managerial Accounting, we thank each of you who provided suggestions to improve
the textbook and its teaching resources. This new edition reflects the advice and wisdom of many dedicated reviewers,
symposium and workshop participants, students, and instructors. Throughout the revision process, we steered this textbook and
its teaching tools in the manner you directed. As you’ll find, the new edition offers a rich set of features—especially digital
features—to improve student learning and assist instructor teaching and grading. We believe you and your students will like what
you find in this new edition.
Many talented educators and professionals have worked hard to create the materials for this product, and for their efforts, we’re
grateful. We extend a special thank-you to our contributing and technology supplement authors, who have worked so
diligently to support this product:
Accuracy Checkers: Dave Krug, Johnson County Community College; Mark McCarthy, East Carolina University; and Beth
Kobylarz
Interactive Presentations: Jeannie Folk, College of DuPage, and April Mohr, Jefferson Community and Technical College, SW
PowerPoint Presentations and Instructor Resource Manual: April Mohr, Jefferson Community and Technical College, SW
Digital Contributor, Connect Content, General Ledger Problems, Test Bank, and Exercise PowerPoints: Kathleen
O’Donnell, Onondaga Community College
In addition to the invaluable help from the colleagues listed above, we thank the entire team at McGraw-Hill Education: Tim
Vertovec, Steve Schuetz, Natalie King, Michelle Williams, Erin Chomat, Kris Tibbetts, Rebecca Mann, Michael McCormick, Lori
Koetters, Peggy Hussey, Xin Lin, Kevin Moran, Debra Kubiak, Sarah Evertson, Brian Nacik, and Daryl Horrocks. We could not
have published this new edition without your efforts.
Chapter Preview
Each chapter opens with a visual chapter preview. Students can begin their reading with a clear understanding of what
they will learn and when. Learning objective numbers highlight the location of related content. Each “block” of content
concludes with a Need-to-Know (NTK) to aid and reinforce student learning. Organization into “blocks” aids students in
quickly searching for answers to homework assignments.
CAP Model
The Conceptual/Analytical/Procedural (CAP) model allows courses to be specially designed to meet the teaching needs
of a diverse faculty. This model identifies learning objectives, textual materials, assignments, and test items by C, A, or
P, allowing different instructors to teach from the same materials, yet easily customize their courses toward a
conceptual, analytical, or procedural approach (or a combination thereof) based on personal preferences.
Page ix
Need-to-Know Demonstrations
Need-to-Know demonstrations are located at key junctures in each chapter. These demonstrations pose questions
about the material just presented—content that students “need to know” to successfully learn accounting.
Accompanying solutions walk students through key procedures and analysis necessary to be successful with homework
and test materials. Need-to-Know demonstrations are supplemented with narrated, animated, step-by-step walk-through
videos led by an instructor and available via Connect.
Global View
The Global View section explains international accounting practices related to the material covered in that chapter. The
aim of this section is to describe accounting practices and to identify the similarities and differences in international
accounting practices versus those in the United States. The importance of student familiarity with international
accounting continues to grow. This innovative section helps us begin down that path. This section is purposefully located
at the very end of each chapter so that each instructor can decide what emphasis, if at all, is to be assigned to it.
Once a student has finished reading the chapter, how well he or she retains the material can depend greatly on the
questions, brief exercises, exercises, and problems that reinforce it. This book leads the way in comprehensive,
accurate assignments.
Comprehensive Need-to-Know Problems present both a problem and a complete solution, allowing students to
review the entire problem-solving process and achieve success. The problems draw on material from the entire chapter.
Chapter Summaries provide students with a review organized by learning objectives. Chapter Summaries are a
component of the CAP model (as discussed in the “Innovative Textbook Features” section), which recaps each
conceptual, analytical, and procedural objective.
Key Terms are bolded in the text and repeated at the end of the chapter. A complete glossary of key terms is available
online through Connect.
Multiple Choice Quiz questions quickly test chapter knowledge before a student moves on to complete Quick Page xi
Studies, Exercises, and Problems.
Quick Study assignments are short exercises that often focus on one learning objective. Most are included in Connect.
There are at least 10–15 Quick Study assignments per chapter.
Exercises are one of this book’s many strengths and a competitive advantage. There are at least 10–15 per chapter,
and most are included in Connect.
Problem Sets A & B are proven problems that can be assigned as homework or for in-class projects. All problems are
coded according to the CAP model (see the “Innovative Textbook Features” section), and Set A is included in Connect.
Beyond the Numbers exercises ask students to use accounting figures and understand their meaning. Page xii
Students also learn how accounting applies to a variety of business situations. These creative and fun exercises are all
new or updated and are divided into nine types:
Reporting in Action
Comparative Analysis
Ethics Challenge
Communicating in Practice
Teamwork in Action
Entrepreneurial Decision
Global Decision
Serial Problems use a continuous running case study to illustrate chapter concepts in a familiar context. The Serial
Problem can be followed continuously from the first chapter or picked up at any later point in the book; enough
information is provided to ensure students can get right to work.
General Ledger Problems enable students to see how transactions are entered in the journal, post to the Page xiii
ledger, listed in a trial balance, and reported in financial statements. Students can track an amount in any financial
statement all the way back to the original journal entry. Critical thinking components then challenge students to analyze
the business activities in the problem.
Excel Simulations allow you to practice your Excel skills, such as basic formulas and formatting, within the context of
accounting. These questions feature animated, narrated Help and Show Me tutorials (when enabled by your instructor).
The End of the Chapter Is Only the Beginning Our valuable and proven assignments aren’t just confined to the book.
From problems that require technological solutions to materials found exclusively online, this book’s end-of-chapter
material is fully integrated with its technology package.
Page xv
This edition’s revisions are driven by feedback from instructors and students. They include:
Many new, revised, and updated assignments throughout, including entrepreneurial and real-world assignments.
Many Need-to-Know (NTK) demonstrations added to each chapter at key junctures to reinforce learning.
Updated Sustainability section for each chapter, with examples linked to the new chapter-opening company.
New annual reports and comparative (BTN) assignments: Apple, Google, and Samsung.
Revised art program, visual infographics, and text layout.
Updated ratio/tool analysis using data from well-known firms.
Revised General Ledger assignments for most chapters.
New and revised entrepreneurial examples and elements.
New technology content integrated and referenced throughout.
Revised Global View section moved to the very end of each chapter following assignments.
Chapter 1
Updated opener—Apple and entrepreneurial assignment.
Updated salary info for accountants and for those with college degrees.
Streamlined “Fraud Triangle” section.
Updated “Cooking the Books” Fraud box.
Moved “Enforcing Ethics” section to earlier in chapter.
Streamlined the “Fundamentals of Accounting” section.
Streamlined the “International Standards” section.
Updated the revenue recognition section.
New margin point to highlight layout of statement of retained earnings.
Updated Sustainability section for Apple’s renewable energy efforts, including SASB.
Updated Decision Insight box on sustainability returns.
New company, Verizon, for Decision Analysis section.
Streamlined Appendix 1A and 1B.
Added new Exercise.
Chapter 2
NEW opener—Soko and entrepreneurial assignment.
Simplified discussion on analyzing and recording process.
Streamlined discussion of classified vs. unclassified balance sheet.
Enhanced explanation of computing equity.
Enhanced Exhibit 2.4 to identify account categories.
Improved summary of transactions in the ledger.
Streamlined explanation of error correction in entries.
New accounting quality box with reference to KPMG data.
Revised Sustainability section on cost savings for small business.
Updated debt ratio analysis using Skechers.
Added two Quick Study assignments.
Updated Piaggio’s (IFRS) balance sheet.
Chapter 3
NEW opener—LuminAID and entrepreneurial assignment.
Streamlined accrual-basis vs. cash-basis section.
New box on how accounting is used to claw back false gains.
Streamlined introduction to accounting adjustments.
Continue to emphasize 3-step adjusting process.
Simplified the “Explanation” section for each adjustment.
Enhanced Exhibit 3.12 on summary of adjustments.
New art distinguishing between temporary and permanent accounts.
Enhanced Exhibit 3.19 on steps of the accounting cycle.
Sustainability section on key to tracking numbers for LuminAID.
Updated profit margin and current ratio analysis using L Brands.
Added one Quick Study and one Exercise.
Reorganized Global View section.
Updated Piaggio’s classified balance sheet.
Chapter 4
NEW opener—Sword & Plough and entrepreneurial assignment.
Revised introduction for servicers vs. merchandisers using Liberty Tax and Nordstrom as examples.
New NTK 4-1 to aid learning of merchandising.
Reorganization of “Purchases” section to aid learning.
Enhanced entries on payment of purchases within discount period vs. after discount period.
Simplified purchase returns illustration.
Reorganized explanation for FOB terms.
Reorganized entries for sales with discounts vs. sales without discounts.
Enhanced entries to explain sales returns and how to account for inventory returned.
New section introducing adjusting entries for future sales discounts and sales returns and allowances—details in new
Appendix 4C.
Introduced new accounts under new revenue recognition rules.
Expanded Exhibit 4.12 to cover updated merchandising transactions.
Updated “Shenanigans” box with data from KPMG.
Sustainability section on accounting for merchandising as key to Sword & Plough.
Updated acid-test ratio and gross margin analysis of JCPenney.
New Appendix 4D showing entries for gross vs. net method.
Added five Quick Study assignments and three Exercises.
Updated Volkswagen income report in Global View.
Chapter 5
NEW opener—Homegrown Sustainable Sandwich and entrepreneurial assignment.
Simplified specific identification calculations in Exhibit 5.4.
New image for each inventory method to show cost flows of goods at each sale date.
Added colored arrow lines to weighted average in Exhibit 5.7 to show cost flows from purchase to sale.
Updated box on purchasing kickbacks using KPMG data.
Lower-of-cost-or-market section simplified.
Enhanced layout to explain effects of inventory errors across years.
Updated Sustainability section explains importance of perpetual inventory for organic producers.
Updated inventory turnover and days’ sales in inventory analysis using Toys ‘R’ Us.
Appendix 5A: New images show cost flow of goods at each period end for each inventory measurement method.
Appendix 5B: Revised to be consistent with new revenue recognition rules.
Updated global accounting to remove convergence project reference.
Chapter 6
NEW opener—Robinhood and entrepreneurial assignment.
New image for certificate of bond coverage.
New discussion of controls over social media with reference to Facebook’s “mood” posts.
New discussion box on how fraud is detected.
New evidence on how cash is stolen from companies.
Simplified the petty cash illustration.
Simplified the bank statement for learning.
Simplified discussion of debit and credit memoranda.
New table to identify timing differences for bank reconciliation.
New pie chart on the top contributors to fraud.
Updated Sustainability section highlights cash controls as necessary for Robinhood’s success.
Updated days’ sales uncollected analysis using Hasbro and Mattel.
Deleted Appendix 6B (now Appendix 4D).
Chapter 7
NEW opener—ReGreen and entrepreneurial assignment.
Updated data in Exhibit 7.1.
New section for sales using store credit cards.
Simplified section for sales using bank (third-party) credit cards to show only entries for cash received at point of sale.
Revised NTK 7-1 for new credit card entries.
Reorganized section on direct write-off method.
New Exhibit 7.9 showing allowances set aside for future bad debts.
Continued 3-step process to estimate allowance for doubtful accounts.
New marginal T-account to show numbers flowing through Allowance account.
Continued Exhibit 7.13 arriving at the accounting adjustment.
New calendar graphic added as learning aid in Exhibit 7.15. Page xvi
New Sustainability section on ReGreen’s efforts.
Updated accounts receivable analysis using IBM and Oracle.
Added one new Exercise.
Chapter 8
NEW opener—Westland Distillery and entrepreneurial assignment.
Updated data in Exhibit 8.1.
Revised images for Exhibit 8.2.
Simplified Exhibit 8.4 for lump-sum purchases.
Enhanced Exhibit 8.7 with actual numbers.
Added margin Excel computations for Exhibit 8.12.
Added margin table to Exhibit 8.14 as learning aid.
Updated Dale Jarrett Racing asset listing.
Added table to explain additional expenditures, including examples and entries.
New simple introduction to operating leases and capital leases.
Added paragraph on R&D expenditures.
Updated “In Control” fraud box with new KPMG data.
Sustainability section on how Westland Distillery relies on accounting for its success.
Updated asset turnover analysis using Molson Coors and Boston Beer.
Simplified Appendix 8A by excluding exchanges without commercial substance.
Chapter 9
NEW opener—Hello Alfred and entrepreneurial assignment.
Updated data in Exhibit 9.2.
Updated payroll tax rates and explanations.
New explanation of Additional Medicare Tax.
Updated unemployment tax rate section.
New section on internal controls for payroll.
New box on payroll fraud with KPMG data.
Simplified bonus explanation and computations.
Updated NTK 9-2 and NTK 9-3.
Sustainability section explains accounting for “Alfreds.”
Updated payroll reports in Appendix 9A.
Chapter 10
NEW opener—Uber and entrepreneurial assignment.
Simplified Exhibit 10.1 for ease of learning.
Updated the IBM stock quote data.
New bond image from Minnesota Vikings stadium bonds.
New NTK 10-1 covering bonds issued at par.
Simplified Exhibit 10.6 on discount bonds.
New T-accounts with Exhibit 10.6 to show bonds payable and the discount on bonds payable.
Simplified Exhibit 10.10 on premium bonds.
Bond pricing moved to Appendix 10A.
Simplified Exhibit 10.14 for note amortization schedule.
Updated “Missing Debt” box using new data from KPMG.
Sustainability section explains bond financing for Uber.
Updated debt-to-equity analysis using Amazon.
New margin Excel computations for bond pricing.
Added margin T-accounts for bonds in Appendix 10B.
Simplified lease example in Appendix 10C.
Chapter 11
NEW opener—Tesla Motors and entrepreneurial assignment.
Streamlined discussion of corporate characteristics.
Updated the Target stock quote data.
Simplified section on stock dividends.
Continued 5-step process for stock dividends.
Revised Exhibit 11.8 to show dividend effects.
New reference to Apple’s 7-for-1 stock split.
Streamlined section on dividend preference of preferred stock.
Updated the Apple statement of equity.
Sustainability section explains how Tesla relies on accounting data to make energy-wise decisions.
Updated PE and dividend yield ratios for Amazon and Altria.
Simplified book value per share computations.
Chapter 12
NEW opener—Amazon and entrepreneurial assignment.
Continued infographics on examples of operating, investing, and financing cash flows.
Kept 5-step process for preparing statement of cash flows.
New graphic on use of indirect vs. direct methods.
New presentation to highlight indirect adjustments to income.
Updated box comparing operating cash flows to income for companies.
Kept “Summary T-Account” for learning statement of cash flows.
New Sustainability section on Amazon’s initiatives.
Updated cash flow on total assets analysis using Nike.
Chapter 13
NEW opener—Morgan Stanley and entrepreneurial assignment.
Streamlined the “Basics of Analysis” section.
Simplified computations for comparative statements.
Updated data for analysis of Apple using horizontal, vertical, and ratio analysis.
Updated comparative analysis using Google and Samsung.
New evidence on accounting ploys by CFOs.
New Sustainability section on Morgan Stanley’s initiatives.
Revised “All Else Being Equal” Fraud box using KPMG data.
Revised Appendix 13A to reflect new rules that remove separate disclosure of extraordinary items.
Revised assignments for new standard on extraordinary items.
Chapter 14
NEW opener—NatureBox and entrepreneurial assignment.
Simplified discussion on purpose of managerial accounting.
Added references to more real-world companies.
Added discussion of enterprise risk management.
Revised Exhibit 14.1 to show common managerial decisions.
Simplified discussion on nature of managerial accounting.
New section on careers in managerial accounting and importance of managerial accounting for nonaccountants.
New exhibit on managerial accounting salaries.
Added example on cost of iPhone.
New section head and revised discussion for nonmanufacturing costs.
Added graphics to cost flow exhibit.
Reduced number of overhead items in exhibit for cost of goods manufactured statement.
Added section on computing cost per unit.
Updated “trends” section to include gig economy (Uber), triple bottom line, and ISO 9000 standards.
Expanded discussion of sustainability and SASB.
Expanded Sustainability section with Decision Insight chart and NatureBox example.
Added Discussion Question on triple bottom line.
Added two Quick Studies on raw materials activity for 3M Co.
Added Exercises on sustainability reporting for Starbucks and Hyatt.
Chapter 15
NEW opener—Neha Assar and entrepreneurial assignment.
Simplified discussion of cost accounting systems.
Simplified direct material and direct labor cost flows and entries.
Added time period information to graphic on 4-step overhead process.
Simplified discussion of recording overhead costs.
Added journal entry for depreciation expense on equipment in NTK 15-5.
Revised exhibits for posting of direct materials, direct labor, and overhead to general ledger accounts and job cost
sheets.
Added section on using job cost sheet for managerial decisions.
Added entries for transfers of costs to Finished Goods Inventory and to COGS.
Expanded discussion of job order costing for service firms.
New exhibit and cost flows for service firms.
Expanded Sustainability section, including USPS and Neha Assar examples.
New NTK on using the job cost sheet.
Added new Quick Study and new Exercise on costing for service firms.
Chapter 16
NEW opener—Stance and entrepreneurial assignment.
Revised exhibit on cost flows in job order and process costing systems.
Revised exhibit on production data and physical flow of units.
Added transfer to finished goods and updated ending balance to WIP T-account for second process.
New section on using process cost summary for decisions.
Added discussion of the raw materials yield to “trends” section.
Revised exhibit and discussion of assigning cost using FIFO.
Expanded discussion of hybrid and operation costing.
Expanded Sustainability discussion, including General Mills and Stance examples.
Added Discussion Question on sustainable raw materials sourcing.
Chapter 17
NEW opener—GrandyOats and entrepreneurial assignment.
Revised discussion of why overhead costs must be assigned.
Revised discussions of plantwide and departmental methods. Page xvii
New exhibit on overhead allocation using plantwide method.
Revised discussion of applying activity-based costing.
Revised exhibit of overhead allocation using activity-based costing.
Revised discussion of advantages and disadvantages of activity-based costing.
Revised and reorganized discussion of advantages and disadvantages of ABC.
Expanded discussion of lean operations and lean accounting.
Revised Sustainability section on supply chain management.
New NTK on activity levels.
Revised Global View on Toyota’s lean manufacturing.
Chapter 18
NEW opener—Sweetgreen and entrepreneurial assignment.
New exhibit on building blocks of CVP analysis.
Revised discussion on uses of CVP analysis.
Revised discussion of fixed and variable costs.
Added data points to margin of fixed and variable cost exhibit.
New graphic on examples of fixed, variable, and mixed costs.
Revised discussion on step-wise and curvilinear costs.
Revised cost data for measuring cost behavior.
Reorganized break-even section into three methods.
Revised discussions of contribution margin income statement and CVP charts.
Moved margin of safety to section on applying CVP.
Added discussion of sales mix and break-even for Amazon.
Revised discussion of assumptions in CVP.
Revised Sustainability section with Nike, CVP analysis, and Sweetgreen example.
Expanded appendix on variable and absorption costing.
Added Discussion Question, four Quick Studies, and 1 Exercise on variable and absorption costing.
Revised Global View on BMW’s i3 break-even point.
Chapter 19
NEW opener—Riffraff and entrepreneurial assignment.
Revised discussion of variable and absorption costing.
Revised discussion of income implications of variable and absorption costing.
New graphics on relations between production, sales, and income effects.
Added T-accounts to exhibits of absorption and variable costing income.
Revised discussion and exhibits of product cost assignments to financial statements.
New graphic on relation between changes in inventory and income effects.
Revised discussion of planning production.
Revised discussion of controlling costs.
Added calculation of break-even using variable costing income statement.
Added exhibit on variable costing income statement for service firm.
Added example of special order decision for service firm.
Added NTK problem on pricing and special offer.
Added two new Quick Studies on sustainability.
Revised Sustainability section on PUMA’s environmental profit and loss account.
Chapter 20
NEW opener—TaTa Topper and entrepreneurial assignment.
Revised discussion, with new exhibit, of budgeting as a management tool.
Revised discussion on benefits of budgeting.
Added new graphic on benefits of budgeting.
Revised discussion of budgeting and human behavior.
New Decision Insight on zero-based budgeting.
New NTK on the benefits and potential costs of budgeting.
Revised master budget process exhibit to reflect types of activities.
Added graphics showing formulas to compute direct materials requirements and direct labor cost.
Revised discussions of direct materials, direct labor, and factory overhead budgets.
Added discussion and exhibits of estimated cash receipts with alternative collection timing and uncollectible accounts.
Added T-account to cash budget exhibit.
New NTKs on the cash budget.
Added margin point on the impact of credit and debit card fees on cash receipts.
Added section with exhibit on budgeting for service companies.
New Sustainability section with discussion of Johnson & Johnson and exhibit and TaTa Topper example.
Added Discussion Question and Quick Study on sustainability and budgeting.
Added Exercise on budgeted cash payments on account.
Chapter 21
NEW opener—Riide and entrepreneurial assignment.
New exhibit on fixed versus flexible budgets.
Revised discussion of fixed versus flexible budgets.
New 3-step process to prepare a flexible budget.
Added section on formula for computing total budgeted cost in a flexible budget.
Revised discussion of setting standard costs.
Revised exhibit on cost variance formula.
Added discussion of potential causes of direct labor variances.
New 3-step process for determining standard overhead rate.
New exhibit, formula, and computation of standard overhead applied.
Revised discussion of overhead volume and controllable variances.
Added calculations of controllable variance and budgeted overhead costs.
Added discussion, exhibit, and Discussion Question of the pros and cons of standard costing.
Added discussion of the International Integrated Reporting Council.
New Sustainability section with discussion of Intel and executive pay and Riide examples.
Added two Quick Studies on sustainability and standard costs.
Chapter 22
NEW opener—Ministry and entrepreneurial assignment.
Reorganized chapter.
Revised discussion of performance evaluation and decentralization.
Revised discussion of Kraft Heinz responsibility centers.
Revised exhibit on responsibility accounting.
Revised discussion of responsibility accounting reports.
Added NTKs on responsibility accounting, cost allocations, and balanced scorecard.
Revised discussion of indirect expense allocations.
New exhibit and discussion of general model of expense allocation.
New exhibit on common allocation bases for indirect expenses.
Revised discussion of preparing departmental income.
New exhibit and formula for computing departmental income.
Added short section on transfer pricing.
New Sustainability section with discussion of General Mills, Target performance reporting, and Ministry example.
Chapter 23
NEW opener—Adafruit Industries and entrepreneurial assignment.
Added discussion of outsourcing in make or buy decision.
Revised discussion of relevant costs and benefits.
Revised exhibit on scrap or rework analysis.
Revised Sustainability section on suppliers’ labor practices, with Apple Code of Conduct and Adafruit examples.
Added Appendix and end-of-chapter assignments on product pricing.
Chapter 24
NEW opener—Simply Gum and entrepreneurial assignment.
Added exhibit and discussion of capital budgeting process.
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Das Theater 'Ammān.
Torweg 'Ammān.
Aber das Wort »Gast« ist geheiligt vom Jordan bis zum Euphrat,
und Namrūd wußte wohl, daß er seine Stellung und seine Sicherheit
vornehmlich der Gastfreundschaft verdankte, die er auf jeden
erstreckte, mochte er noch so ungelegen kommen. Ich steuerte auch
einen Beitrag zu dem Gelage bei, indem ich ein Kistchen Zigaretten
verteilte, und ehe ich mich zurückzog, waren freundschaftliche
Beziehungen zwischen mir und den Beni Sachr hergestellt.
Belkaaraber.
Als ich vor fünf Jahren Kastal besuchte, war es unbewohnt, und
das Land unbebaut, aber jetzt hatten sich ein paar Bauernfamilien
unter den zerbröckelnden Gewölben angesiedelt, und junges Korn
sproßte zwischen den Mauern, — lauter Dinge, die wohl das Herz
eines Menschenfreundes erwärmen, dem Archäologen aber einen
kalten Schauer durch die Brust jagen müssen. Kein größerer
Vernichter als der Pflug, kein schlimmerer Zerstörer als der Bauer,
der nach behauenen Steinen zum Bau seiner Hütte Ausschau hält.
Ich bemerkte noch ein anderes Zeichen der sich ausbreitenden
Zivilisation, zwei ausgehungerte Soldaten nämlich, die Wärter der
nächsten Haltestelle der Haddjbahn, die nach der einige Meilen
weiter westwärts gelegenen Ruine den Namen Zīza erhalten hat.
Veranlassung zu ihrem Besuch war die magere Henne, die einer der
beiden Soldaten in der Hand trug. Er hatte sie aus der Mitte ihrer
noch dürftigeren Gefährtinnen im Festungshof gerissen — gegen
welchen Preis, wollen wir lieber nicht erforschen, denn der Hungrige
kennt kein Gesetz. Es lag mir nicht besonders viel daran, den
Behörden in 'Ammān meine Anwesenheit im Grenzgebiet merken zu
lassen, deshalb brach ich schnell auf und ritt ostwärts nach Zīza.
Der Regen hatte die Wasserläufe der Wüste gefüllt, nur selten
sind sie so tief und fließen so schnell, wie der eine, den wir an jenem
Nachmittag durchkreuzen mußten. Auch die große Römerzisterne
von Zīza war bis zum Rande gefüllt, so daß die Suchūr den ganzen
kommenden Sommer hindurch Wasser genug haben würden. Die
Ruinen von Zīza sind viel zahlreicher als in Kastal; es muß hier eine
große Stadt gestanden haben, denn ein weiter Raum ist mit den
Mauerwerken zerfallener Häuser bedeckt. Vermutlich war Kastal das
jene Stadt schützende Fort und teilte den Namen Zīza. Hier befindet
sich auch ein sarazenisches Kal'ah, ein Fort, welches Soktan, ein
Scheich der Suchūr — so erzählte Namrūd — wiederherstellen und
mit einer in der Wüste ganz unbekannten Pracht ausstatten ließ.
Aber da es in dem Gebiet liegt, auf dem das neue Landgut erstehen
soll, ist es in Besitz des Sultans gekommen und geht nun wieder
dem Verfall entgegen. Die Erhebungen dahinter sind mit Mauerwerk
bedeckt, darunter die Überreste einer Moschee, deren Kuppel noch
nach Süden zu sichtbar ist. Zīza war zu Ibrahim Paschas Zeit noch
ägyptische Garnison, und es waren vornehmlich seine Soldaten, die
die Zerstörung der alten Bauten vollendeten. Ehe sie kamen,
standen viele Baudenkmäler, so z. B. mehrere christliche Kirchen,
noch vollständig gut erhalten, wie die Araber erzählen. Unser
Heimweg führte uns längs des Eisenbahndammes hin, und die
Unterhaltung drehte sich um die möglichen Vorteile, die dem Lande
aus eben dieser Bahnlinie erwachsen konnten. Namrūd hegte
Zweifel in dieser Hinsicht. Er sah scheel auf alle Beamten und
Soldaten; hatte er doch wirklich mehr Grund, diese offiziellen Räuber
zu fürchten, deren Habgier nicht durch Gastfreundschaft entwaffnet
werden konnte, als die Araber, die ihm zu sehr verpflichtet waren,
um ihm großen Schaden zuzufügen. Er hatte im vergangenen Jahre
einige Wagenladungen Korn nach Damaskus geschickt; ja, es war
ein billigeres und schnelleres Transportmittel als die Kamele,
solange die Waren überhaupt ankamen, aber gewöhnlich waren die
Kornsäcke bei ihrer Ankunft in der Hauptstadt soviel leichter
geworden, daß der Vorteil dadurch wieder aufgehoben wurde. Das
würde später vielleicht besser werden, später, wenn man auch
Lampen, Kissen und die übrigen Ausstattungsstücke der
Wüstenbahn an dem Platz belassen würde, für den sie gekauft und
bestimmt waren. Wir sprachen auch von Aberglauben und von
Furcht, die das Herz bei Nacht befallen. Es gibt gewisse Orte,
erzählte Namrūd, an die kein Araber im Dunkel zu gehen wagt —
unheimliche Brunnen, denen sich der Durstige nicht nähert, Ruinen,
wo der Müde nicht Obdach sucht, Höhlen, die dem Einsamen
verhängnisvolle Ruhestatt bieten würden. Was fürchten sie? Ja, wer
weiß, wovor die Menschen sich fürchten? Er selbst hatte einst einen
Araber um den Verstand gebracht, als er im Zwielicht nackt vor ihm
aus einem einsamen Wassertümpel hervorsprang. Der Mann rannte
entsetzt nach seinen Zelten, versicherte, einen Djenn gesehen zu
haben und beschwor seine Leute, die Herden nicht zur Tränke an
das Wasser zu führen, in dem der Djenn wohnte, bis endlich Namrūd
kam, ihn auslachte und die Sache aufklärte.
Wir kehrten nicht unmittelbar zu den Zelten zurück. Ich war
diesen Abend zu Scheich Nahār von den Beni Sachr geladen,
demselben, der die Nacht vorher in Namrūds Höhle verbracht hatte,
und nach einer Beratung hatten wir uns dahin entschieden, daß
selbst eine Person von meiner hohen Würde eine solche Einladung
recht wohl annehmen könnte, ohne sich dadurch etwas zu vergeben.
Christliches Zeltlager.
»Im allgemeinen,« fügte Namrūd hinzu, »sollten Sie nur die Zelte
großer Scheichs besuchen, sonst könnten Sie Leuten in die Hände
fallen, die Sie nur um des Geschenkes willen einladen, das Sie
spenden. Nahār gut; er ist ein ehrlicher Mann, obgleich Meskin,« —
eine Bezeichnung, die alle Formen leiser Verachtung in sich schließt,
mag diese sich nun erstrecken auf unverschuldete Armut, Dummheit
oder die ersten Stufen des Lasters.
Der Meskin empfing mich mit der Würde eines Fürsten und
geleitete mich an den Ehrenplatz auf dem zerlumpten Teppich
zwischen dem viereckigen als Feuerstelle dienenden Loch im
Fußboden und der Scheidewand, die das Frauengelaß von dem der
Männer trennt. Wir hatten unsre Pferde an die langen Zelttaue
gebunden, die dem schwachen Gebäude eine so wunderbare
Festigkeit verleihen, und unsre Augen schweiften von unserm
Sitzplatz aus nach Osten hin über die Landschaft — Wellenberg und
Wellental — sie hob und senkte sich, als atme die Wüste leise und
ruhig in der hereinbrechenden Nacht. Die dem Winde abgekehrte
Seite eines Araberzeltes ist stets offen; dreht sich der Wind, so
nehmen die Weiber die Zeltwand ab und drehen es nach einer
anderen Himmelsrichtung; in einem Augenblick ist die Lage
verändert, und die Wohnung blickt nach der günstigsten Seite hin.
Das Häuschen der Araber ist so klein und leicht, und doch so fest
verankert, daß der Sturm ihm wenig anhaben kann. Das grobe
Gewebe aus Ziegenhaar quillt in der Feuchtigkeit auf und filzt so
zusammen, daß nur fortgesetzter, vom Sturm heftig gepeitschter
Regen in die Wohnstätte eindringen kann.
Die Kaffeebohnen waren geröstet und gestoßen, und die
Kaffeetöpfe summten am Feuer, als von Osten her drei Reiter
kamen und vor dem offnen Zelt hielten. Es waren untersetzte,
breitschulterige Männer mit auffallend unregelmäßigen Gesichtern
und vorstehenden Zähnen. Während Platz im Kreis um das Feuer
gemacht wurde, und die frierenden, durchweichten Männer ihre
Hände über die Glut streckten, ging die Unterhaltung
ununterbrochen weiter, denn es waren ja nur Scherarātmänner, die
herab nach Moab gekommen waren, um Korn zu kaufen, und die
Scherarāt sind zwar einer der größten und mächtigsten Stämme und
die berühmtesten Kamelzüchter, sind aber von unreinem Blut, und
kein Belkaaraber würde in ihren Stamm hineinheiraten. Sie haben
keine bestimmten Weideplätze; selbst zur Zeit der großen
Sommerdürre durchstreifen sie nur die innere Wüste, unbesorgt
darum, daß sie oft tagelang kein Wasser finden. Die Unterhaltung an
Nahārs Feuer drehte sich um meine Reise. Ein Suchūrneger, ein
kräftiger Mann mit klugem Gesicht, wollte mich sehr gern als Führer
in das drusische Gebirge begleiten, gestand aber, daß er sicherlich
würde umkehren und fliehen müssen, sobald er das Gebiet jener
tapferen Bergbewohner erreichte, denn es besteht unaufhörlich
Fehde zwischen den Drusen und den Beni Sachr. Die Negersklaven
der Suchūr werden von ihren Herren, die ihren Wert kennen, gut
behandelt und genießen, da ein Abglanz von dem Ruhme des
großen Stammes, dem sie dienen, auch auf sie fällt, einen gewissen
Ruf in der Wüste. Schon war ich halb geneigt, trotz der Aussicht,
meinen Neger im ersten Drusendorf möglicherweise als Leiche vor
mir zu sehen, sein Anerbieten anzunehmen, als meine Gedanken
durch die Ankunft eines neuen Gastes in eine neue Bahn gelenkt
wurden. Es war ein großer, junger Mann mit feinem, hübschem
Gesicht, ziemlich heller Gesichtsfarbe und langen, fast braunen
Locken. Schon bei seiner Annäherung erhoben sich Nahār und die
anderen Suchūrscheiche und küßten ihn, noch ehe er das Zelt
betrat, jeder auf beide Wangen. Namrūd stand ebenfalls auf und rief
ihm entgegen:
»Alles gut? Geb's Gott! Wer ist bei dir?«
Der junge Mann erhob die Hand und erwiderte:
»Gott.«
Er war allein.