Page:The Northern Ḥeǧâz (1926).djvu/220

 barley flour. The guide mentioned with delight that in that year the great areas between Ṭubejž and Ḥesma were covered with semḥ, so that every family would have a few bags of semḥ seed. From 7.30 to 7.50 our camels grazed. On the southwest appeared the cones of Abu Šnân.

At eight o’clock we came upon fourteen small piles of stones, which had been set up as a memorial to the fact that upon this place the chief Ṭwêleʻ al-Ḫoẓri saved fourteen starving warriors. The latter had gone on a raid but had been surrounded and overpowered and were obliged to give up their arms, camels, and all their supplies, including even their clothing, and then had to return home on foot. For eight days they lived on various herbs, but on the ninth they became so weak that they could go no farther. For two nights and one day they remained in the same place, listening to the wild animals howling around them at night and in the daytime watching the birds of prey wheeling over them. Thus they awaited death. At last Allâh had pity on them and sent the chief Ṭwêleʻ, who saved them.

At 8.20, to the east, we perceived the extinct volcanic cone of Ḥebrân and nearer to us the broad ravine of Ǧemûm, which joins with the šeʻîb of ar-Râšde, which in turn merges into the valley of al-Aḫẓar. On the broad elevation of Umm Birḳa, where we found good pasturage, we remained from 9.05 to 10.50 (temperature: 39° C). Having unloaded the baggage I proceeded with the guide and Tûmân to a cone not far away, whence we drew a sketch of the surrounding district. The ascent was difficult because we had to cross fragments of lava, continually avoiding large basalt boulders.

The table mountain of Umm Birḳa, covered with basalt, is situated on the watershed of the valleys of Ǧizel and al-Aḫẓar. On the southeast Umm Birḳa is connected with Mount aṣ-Ṣbâḫ, from which ar-Riǧm ex-