Page:The Northern Ḥeǧâz (1926).djvu/74

 The šeʻîb of al-Ḥelwa joins ar-Rekijje and comes to an end, under the name of aš-Šebîbi, in the rift valley of alʻAraba near Mount az-Ziblijje.

Our party remained at the well of al-Ḥelwa from 6.48 to 10.45. Meanwhile, accompanied by the guide, Tûmân and I clambered on to the southern peak of Mount az-Zaʻtar, where we did some cartographical work. On our return we found that our companions were ready for departure. Having led the camels out upon the left-hand slope of al-Bêẓa, we crept down the broken ridges of rock, picking our way among white boulders, until at last we came out upon a white, undulating plain at 11.06. We caught sight of a pile of old buildings to the west, on our right, and came upon the Roman highroad, here regularly paved for a distance of about two hundred meters. Near it there stood three broken pillars, possibly the remains of Roman mileposts. I could see no inscription on them, as they were made of soft limestone which has been largely decomposed. At 11.31 we rode round the ruined bridge that spans the šeʻîb of Ammu Dûde. This šeʻîb forms a broad but shallow trough between white rocks, which gleamed so brilliantly in the sun’s rays that they seemed white-hot. The separate channels attain a depth as great as ten meters and are shut in by steep banks. The whole geological configuration resembles that of Wâdi Mûsa especially in its northern area near al-Bêḍa. After 11.42 we rode alongside the aqueduct, which is said to lead from the copious well of al-Ḳena’ and rises only a very little above the plain. The lower wall is 70 cm. broad, the trench being 15 cm. deep and