Page:The Northern Ḥeǧâz (1926).djvu/160

 water of Umm Naḫale on the slope of Mount Arejka, which is conspicuous because of its ocher color. At the southern foot of the mountain are the springs of Ḏḳêṭ and aẓ-Ẓabʻijje, which belong to the al-Kaḥala basin. At 5.30 we saw the šeʻîb of al-ʻAǧûz on the left and to the southeast the high walls of the granite mountain range of an-Naʻejẓa, through which lead the defiles of al-ʻArajjeḳ and al-Bdejje. In front of these mountains to the east of us rose the black mountain of al-Ṛurâba, along the southeastern foot of which extends the šeʻîb of al-Maṭḥane, which joins the šeʻîb of Ornub. At 6.15, entering an extensive hollow covered with a dense growth of sejâl, we observed under the trees a few wretched tents belonging to the Ḥwêṭât. From 6.30 to 7.34 we rested to the west of the šeʻîb of al-Medâʻîḳ, on the northern edge of the hollow near a deep gap which contains the spring of az-Zrejb. Having unloaded our baggage, we led the camels to the water. After a while three women came up behind us driving three flocks of small goats, and behind them followed a young man with a flock of about ten sheep and two camels. I wished to hire him as a guide, but he could not leave his flock. Our previous guide was afraid that he might be seen by some of his enemies encamped on the uplands of Ḥesma, and he asked me therefore to let him return. According to ʻAfnân’s statements, we should find in the vicinity of the spring of az-Zrejb on the border of the Ḥwêṭât and the Beni ʻAṭijje a camp of the latter, but both the women and the young man assured us that all the ʻAṭâwne had departed for the uplands of Ḥesma, where their flocks had abundant pasturage, while on the coast the flocks were perishing with hunger.

At eight o’clock we rode round an ancient burial place. At 8.03 we observed on the left the šeʻîb and spring of Ḳîr, the source of which is high up on the steep slope of the granite mountains bearing the same name and is very difficult of access. Mount Ḳîr is composed of a great quantity of granite ribs some of which project above its general level and from afar resemble black stalactites. At 9.40 we had the šeʻîb of Umm Hašîm on our left; at 9.50 the šeʻîb of Abu Ḥamâṭa and the spring of the same name were on our right. South of the latter šeʻîb begins the cleft of al-Medâʻîḳ, which joins the šeʻîb of Ornub. Having passed the latter, we entered the narrow šeʻîb of as-Sîḳ, enclosed by high, rocky walls which seem to touch