Page:The Northern Ḥeǧâz (1926).djvu/190

 right we had the two violet-colored tabular hills of al-Ḫuḳûḳ, between which projected a high peak. There were no signs of vegetation, everything being quite bare and parched. To the east of the šeʻîb there rise the numerous low hills of Berḳa-s-Smejḥân, half-covered with sand, and to the south extends the high, table ridge of Umm Ḫrejmân. North of the latter rises the three-peaked mountain of Umm Ḫanǧûr, in front of which is the high cone of al-Bṛejṯ. To the south of these mountains and to the west of the well of al-Ḳena’ extends the long ridge of aṯ-Ṯmejjem, terminating in a steep slope. At 5.25 we saw in front of us the black sides of the table-shaped hill of al-Muʻezz (temperature at 5.00 A. M.: 21° C).

The configuration of the whole region is uniform: table-shaped hills with precipitous sides; deep, broad šeʻibân; and extensive plains, upon which are situated low knolls, cones, and peaks. The šeʻibân contain much sand in which the ṛaẓa and ʻâḏer grow. Here and there isolated ratam bushes and ṭalḥ trees are found. The guide explained that the ṭalḥ trees are very useful. If the bark is cut, fragrant resin, called ṣamaṛ, gushes out. This resin in a hardened form is collected and sold at Ẓbe’ and al-Weǧh for from one to one and a half meǧîdijjât ($ 0.90 to $ 1.35) the roṭol (2.56 kilograms), according to the demand. In 1909 the Egyptian traders at Ẓbe’ paid as much as one English pound for one roṭol. Resin is also collected from the sejâl, but this is not as fragrant and does not fetch as high price.

At 5.38 we saw the hills of Rdejhat al-Ḥamẓ and behind them the rocks of Ḥamra’-š-Šwârbi. At six o’clock the guide pointed out to me a couple of dark cones between which (bên ha-s-samrawên, between both of these blackish cones) begins the šeʻîb of Umm Ṭibb, which joins al-Ḳena’.

Our camel driver Muṭalleḳ explained that there were no greater rogues than the fellow tribesmen of our guide Sbejḥ. They have no regard either for hospitality, protection, countenance (waǧh), or shelter. Sbejḥ grew very angry and threatened to strike Muṭalleḳ and indeed to kill him if he spoke about the Beni ʻAṭijje in such a manner. Muṭalleḳ hailed from the oasis of Tejma but had been living at Tebûk for several years. In the spring he went to Maʻân to earn money. Returning from Maʻân he met with the chiefs Ḥamed and Aḥmed eben Ḏerʻ, who had been driven out from the oasis of al-