Page:Mount Seir, Sinai and Western Palestine.djvu/252

206 After three miles the valley turns again abruptly to the east, and at the corner are the important springs of Râs el 'Ain (called 'Ain el 'Elya by Professor Palmer), surrounded by palm-trees; the water is good and plentiful, forming a small stream running towards a narrow passage (Es Sûk) in the granite hills; this does not at all prepare the traveller for the grand gorge he has a few steps ahead of him. On entering Es Sûk the cliffs close in on both sides, forming every combination of turn and bend, and running up to about 800 feet with sheer precipitous sides; every turn increases the height and grandeur of the gorge, while the small stream keeps the place cool and green with many plants and shrubs. Careful traversing had to be adopted through the gorge, which extends four miles.

Camp was pitched beyond the gorge, where another spring occurs called 'Ain el Akari, watering a small patch of reeds and palms. I had to observe from several high points on either side of the gorge in order to carry on the continuity of my observations.

On the 26th camp was moved. After passing through narrow valleys surrounded by granite hills, the road emerged opposite Jebel 'Aradeh, a high mountain of white limestone, which had to be ascended for observation. In the open portion of the valley there is a well of good water, having a perennial supply, called Bir es Saura: it occurs in a small cave. This well was said to belong to the Terabîn tribe of Arabs, but I could not find out that any of them ever came here, and it is certainly detached from their main possessions to the north and west of Nakhl.

The broad valley up which we travelled changes its name frequently as it passes each locality: thus in a few hours it becomes Wâdy 'Aradeh near the Jebel 'Aradeh, Wâdy 'Attiyeh opposite the tomb of the Sheikh of that name, and Wâdy Herteh at Jebel Herteh where we camped.

To the west of Wâdy Herteh the country is much broken up by small hills and valleys. The valley itself is large and open. After bending to the east and passing between some hills it again changes its name and becomes Wâdy el Hessy, which name it retains to its source. There is a small well in Wâdy Hessy, called 'Ain Hamâti, with a scanty supply of water.

The route continues in Wâdy Hessy, which gradually opens out on to an extensive plain; crossing the plain to the north the watershed is reached: it is formed of low hills with a descent of a few hundred feet to a lower plain on the north. On the west is the range of hills called Turf er Rukn, running out into the plain as far as the Haj road, ending in abrupt