Page:The Northern Ḥeǧâz (1926).djvu/318



According to Agatharchides, Periplus (Photius’ version [ Müller, Vol. 1]), pp. 177—179, on leaving the Gulf of Heroöpolis, one arrives at Nessa, a place so called from the ducks which are found there in large numbers. Nessa is situated near a spur of land covered with a thick growth of forest, which extends directly to Petra and Palestine, whither the Gerrhaeans and Minaeans, as well as all the Arabs dwelling in the vicinity, convey incense. Farther on, the Laeanitic Gulf is reached, near which are situated numerous settlements of the Nabataean Arabs, who possess not only the coast but also many villages inland in a region well populated and incredibly rich in cattle. Beyond the Laeanitic Gulf follows the territory of the Bythemani. Extensive, level, and with an abundance of water, this region is low-lying and covered with grass, medic, and lotus clover, which attains the height of a man. Nothing else is cultivated there. In consequence, the country is full of wild camels, as well as of flocks of deer, gazelles, sheep, mules, and oxen. But this prosperous state of affairs has one disadvantage; the territory also attracts numerous lions, wolves, and panthers. From the coast near by a bay extends five hundred stades inland, and by it dwell the Batmizomaneis, who hunt land animals. Opposite the coast referred to there are three islands, the first dedicated to Isis, the second called Sukabya, the third Salydo. These islands are all uninhabited, but olives grow upon them, not like ours but of species peculiar to these regions. Behind the three islands, which are situated outside the bay, extends a long, stony coast belonging to the territory of the Thamudenoi Arabs. Along the coast navigation is very difficult, as it is more than a thousand stades in length and does not contain a single safe or easily accessible harbor nor any actual anchorages, protective bays, or islands such as mariners need for shelter.

Nessa is merely a descriptive noun denoting “duck island,” and Agatharchides does not give the proper name of this place. According to other accounts it would seem to be an island identical with the modern island of Tîrân or Târân. The name “Tîrân” also denotes some sort of sea bird, so that the name “Nessa” is analogous to Tîrân. Agatharchides’ spur of land extending close to this island is identical with the modern Râs al-Ḳaṣba, the last spur of the mountain range which encloses the Gulf of al-ʻAḳaba to the east and extends to Petra, the Nabataean capital, and farther as far as Palestine. A dense forest covers this mountain range in the northern half to as far north as the southern end of the Dead Sea. The southern half of the range is bare, except that in the valleys there can be seen extensive groves of acacias of various kinds and here and there on the slopes other trees, so that even today it could be