Page:The Northern Ḥeǧâz (1926).djvu/169

 tains. The greedy old man demanded two meǧîdijjât ($ 1.80) for the kid and one meǧîdijje (90 cents) for the fuel and the labor of preparing the meal. Yet we had scarcely tasted any of the kid’s flesh, for it was eaten up by the rest of those who were present, and we were given neither bread, rice, nor even milk. After the meal I went away with the youth and Tûmân to a cone not far off, in order that we might note down the position and direction of the various localities. Our camels were already prepared for departure, but the guide still lingered, his excuse being that his riding camel had not yet arrived. At last, losing patience, I jumped up into the saddle, my companions followed my example, and at 5.30 we rode out of the camp and did not trouble about a guide. As a parting word I told those present that, if he did not overtake us before sunset, we would announce everywhere how faithfully the son of the chief of the Beni ʻAṭijje had kept his word. That proved effective. Scarcely twenty minutes had elapsed before the young guide galloped up to us.

We proceeded in a southeasterly direction through the rocky plain of Baṭḥ as-Sikâra, from which numerous isolated rocks project. Where any quantity of mould had accumulated, various plants were growing, and the camels and goats grazed upon them. In the rays of the setting sun the region was filled with a riot of beautiful colors. The blackened surfaces of the sandstone, leveled down by wind and rain, glistened as if molten iron had been poured over them. The rich green stood out sharply against the ruddy background. The walls and slopes which were turned towards the sun glowed blood-red and their angles seemed to be lined with purple. Fire blazed from each edge. The northern and southern slopes were as if painted a dark blue. In the deep gaps between the various knolls and cones there were already displayed dense, violet-colored veils of mist, above which a golden-yellow firmament was arched.

The road was good, being devoid of stones or débris. At eight o’clock we came upon a clear, white, bare, dry, clay surface. It was the dried-up rain pond Naḳaʻ Ḳemâjem, the eastern extremity of which we reached at 8.20. From it to the east extends a broad, sandy drift, the northern slope of which falls off about fifteen meters. To the north there rises a rock, against which the west wind beats and scatters the sand southward, so that between the rock and the drift there