Page:The journal of the Royal Geographic Society of London. Volume 34, 1864. (IA s572id13663720).pdf/339

Rh into the mass of Djebel Toweyk itself, and passes through the centre of the province Aared, where it assumes its topographical name of Wadi Haneefah, as far as Derey’eeyah, now a heap of ruins.

At the distance of about a league before it reaches Derey’eeyah, another and a smaller side-branch quits the main valley, and leads straight to the actual capital Er-Riad. Here it reunites with the principal channel of Wadi Haneefah, and then pursues an easterly direction, till 10 or 12 miles further on it joins Wadi Soley’, with which it is henceforth confounded.

Another and very large ramification is given off at Malka, not far to the west of Derey’eeyah; it bears the common name of Wadi Haneefah, and conducts to the wide-scattered ruins of ’Eyanah; then runs east by north till it rejoins Wadi Soley’ higher up, namely behind the further steppes of Djebel Toweyk in the province of Sedeyr.

Lastly, this same valley, at the town of Riad, sends out a south-westerly branch towards Aflaj, and thus ultimately affords an imperfect communication with Wadi Dowasir, and the southern regions.

Such are the ramifications and course of Wadi Haneefah, or “the Valley of Orthodoxy”), formerly known by the name of Wadi Moseylemah or “Valley of Moseylemah” from the famous Nejdean pseudo-prophet, cotemporary and rival of Mahomet; and of whom many even now say in Nejed, that “he and Mahomet were equally prophets, only the latter had the better luck.” Of his influence in Central Arabia, of his Coran, and of the traces he has left, in spite of Mahometanism and Wahhabeeism, up to the present day, I can, for the reasons already assigned, say nothing here. I return to the Central Plateau.

Whether rising in steppes or furrowed by valleys, the general altitude of this entire region is considerably above that of the rest of the peninsula in whatever direction (’Oman alone excepted); and this is implied by the common Arab phrase of “Talaat-Nejed” “going up to Nejed,” as well as by the inverse expression “Anhader Hejaz,” &c., “going down to the Hejaz to Hasa,” &c.

Wallin, if I remember right, seems to believe the contrary, and brings forward in favour of his theory the popular term “Nezel Nejed,” which he renders by “going down to Nejed,” and which would thus imply the altitude of Nejed to be inferior to that of Djebel Shomer, or other points of north-western Arabia where that traveller took his observations.

But this is a misunderstanding, occasioned by want of intimacy with the Arab language. “Nezel” does indeed mean “descend,” but when applied to a journey, it does not relate to the height or