Page:The Northern Ḥeǧâz (1926).djvu/230

 encampment, and he promised to guide us so that we should not encounter the Beli. Having settled the payment which he was to receive for guiding us, he demanded an extra fee for giving the topographical names, threatening that otherwise he would merely guide us and not tell us the names of the various places. On disposing of this matter also to his satisfaction, we started off at 4.30. A M. (temperature: 17° C).

The valley broadens out into a basin enclosed on all sides by low, but steep, slopes, and known as al-Ǧaw (the watering place) because it contains many mšâše, or rain water wells. The plain is covered with a fairly deep layer of clay in which various plants thrive luxuriantly, and it therefore forms the best winter encampment of the Beli. The guide proudly pointed out to us the abundant withered pasturage through which we were passing and asked whether throughout our journey from Tebûk we had seen so many and such various plants. The annuals were yellowish, while the shrubs were a brilliant green. At 4.45 we observed the šeʻîb of Ḏerwa on our left. To the east of it, Wâdi abu Ḥamâṭa is joined by the šeʻîb of aš-Šeḳḳ, which contains the well of Maḳran aš-Šeḳḳ. The mšâš of az-Zennâdijje lies to the northeast. Ḏerwa starts from the hill of aṭ-Ṭlâḥ and divides the table mountains of al-Mšaḳḳar, Swejd an-Niswân, and al-ʻAmâra on the west from the similar mountain of Ṯadra on the east. In the upper part of this šeʻîb are the rain water wells Mšâš al-Bli. The knoll of Ṭôr Ḥamde overlooks its mid-course from the west. From the east Ḏerwa is joined by the šeʻîb of an-Neǧîli, which begins under the name of al-Mrejra to the north of Ṯadra near the wells Ḳulbân Ḥẓêr and divides this mountain from al-Kafḥa on the east. Upon the eastern slope of the gray table mountain of Ṯadra is situated the black volcano Ḥala’-l-Bedr. On the western slope there used to flow a spring now said to have been clogged up by the collapse of a rock. Southwest of Ṯadra the plain is overlooked by Ṭôr Ḥamde. To the southeast we perceived the hill of Slejʻ and still farther in that direction the volcano of al-ʻÂṣi, in which are the Moṛâjer ʻAbîd Mûsa, “the caves of the servants of Moses.” Our guide explained that the servants of Moses sojourned in them when their master was abiding with Allâh. Another sacred spot is situated by the well of al-Ḥẓêr. It is called al-Manḥal, and upon it are twelve stones known as al-Maḏbaḥ, where the Beli still offer up sacrifices when they are encamped close by.