Page:The journal of the Royal Geographic Society of London. Volume 34, 1864. (IA s572id13663720).pdf/341

Rh ployed in Nejed; and rather implies a certain familiarity, affection, and the like, than real smallness of dimension. Such is the case with Toweyk in particular.

The ground-soil of these valleys is generally of light earth, intermixed with sand, gravel, limestone, granite pebbles, quartz, &c., washed down from the adjoining heights by the rains of winter. Indeed at that season the hollows are often transformed into mere torrent-beds; and the earth-built houses erected in their cavities are frequently ruined and washed away. Of this I have seen numerous instances at Zulphah, Rowdah, and at Er-Riad itself. But these torrents are of very brief duration; in three or four days the water subsides, then the pools it has left behind soon dry up, and the moisture remains for the rest of the year hidden at a few feet below the ground level. Water under such conditions, abounds in almost all the valleys of Nejed, and hence the frequency of populous centres and cultivation throughout its provinces. But the gardens and villages, the fields and groves, are invariably situated in the depth of the valleys, and thus remain hidden from the view of the traveller until he comes close upon them. Sedeyr, an extensive highland province, contains above thirty towns or villages, some of them like Djelajil and Horeymelah, are of very ancient date. Woshem is even more populous; its centre is the commercial town of Shakrah. The ’Aared, a small but important province, and the very heart, so to speak, of Nejed, contains only fifteen; but among these are Er-Riad, the capital, Derey’eeyah, Manfoohah, and others of considerable importance. Aflaj possesses an equal number, but of less numerical and political value. The most fertile, as well as the most thickly peopled district here, is Yemamah, frequently named also the “Kharj,” or “income,” from the large amount of its annual tribute to the central government. Its valleys are remarkably broad and numerous, and its waters abundant; hence its principal towns, such as Selemeeyah, Halwa, &c., are distinguished not only by the number of their inhabitants, but also by the great extent of their adjoining palm-groves, visible afar off like green carpets thrown here and there on a yellow or whitish ground.

Nejdean towns in general,—for my actual limits do not permit their separate description one by one,—offer an assemblage of one or two-storied houses, constructed of large unbaked bricks, almost rivalling stone in hardness and durability. They are in all cases surrounded by earth fortifications, consisting of walls about 20 feet in height, with somewhat loftier towers and bastions, and three or four outer gates, well flanked by towers, and not un- frequently closed by large folding doors of timber, for Instance at Mejmaa, the head-town of Sedeyr, Riad in the Aared, &c.,