Page:Mount Seir, Sinai and Western Palestine.djvu/256

210 running north-north-east commences on the western side of Wâdy 'Arabah, separating it completely from the Wady Jerafeh; I walked along these hills, called Er Rishy, until I reached the watershed of the main valley at the mouth of Wâdy Jerafeh, flowing from the east. This watershed is 320 feet higher than the other, and is the commencement of the great valley flowing south up which we had come.

The watershed is curiously formed—just at the mouth of this wâdy, part of the waters of which run north and part south. Those running north are joined by several wâdies from the Mount Hor range, and after passing the end of the low range of hills separating the valley here in an easterly direction, join the big valley of Wâdy Jerafeh or Wâdy el Jeib.

Armstrong found a ruined building in the valley. It measured 102 feet square, with well-cut drafted masonry. The building did not appear to date prior to Saracenic times—very probably one of the old road stations on the highway to 'Akabah.

Camp was pitched in Wâdy Abu Kusheibeh.

The eastern hills here recede, leaving a sort of amphitheatre in front of Jebel Harûn, the Mount Hor of Scripture, which rises magnificently in the centre. There is a mountain of white limestone immediately south of Mount Hor, over which it towers and gains by the contrast of its dark red hue over the white. Looking thus at Mount Hor from the south it appears to rise in several pinnacles, the highest of which is surrounded by a glistening white dome covering the tomb of the patriarch Aaron.

The scenery is exceptionally fine, and I do not consider former writers have exaggerated the grand appearance of Mount Hor; the brilliant colours of the rocks have been remarked by all travellers, but surpassed what I expected to find.

As I had been observing into the dome of Mount Hor for some time I was very anxious to complete my observations by obtaining a round of angles from there. Next morning therefore an attempt was made to go up without warning the Arabs, as had been done by Palmer and Drake; but this was frustrated, as I expected, by the Arabs having heard of our coming, and being on the alert. Two parties of our size travelling up Wâdy 'Arabah cannot do so without being remarked and making a sensation. We, however, penetrated up the valley leading to Petra for some distance, and noticed remains of terraces and some buildings on the slope.

We camped at the mouth of the wâdy that evening, and next morning was spent in discussion with the Arabs as to the amount for which they