Page 168 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

IX.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 129

over tabular masses of limestone, until 3 30,

when we halted in a narrow ravine near some
wells of water. Hitherto the hills are wholly

destitute of trees or herbage. Some scanty
tufts appear at intervals, but the ravines by

which they are intersected, notwithstanding
their rocky bed, nourish several lofty tarfa or

.
*
tamarisk trees (Hedysarum Alhaghi)
The mountaineers who accompany us,
appear neither social nor good-humoured.
After dark I noticed five different fires; the

Bedowins of a single party always club
around one.

December 27 th. At 5'30, the thermometer
stood at 53°; but it was not until seven hours,

when the sun had risen sufficiently high to
warm them, that our guides would proceed.

We then continued our ascent over the same
country as yesterday. The bushes become

more stunted and scarce as we proceed, and
all other vegetation entirely disappears. At

9 30 we arrived at the summit of the ridge,
and from thence obtained a good view of the

general outlines of the hills which form the

* I could not learn that any manna is here procured from this
tree, as in the vicinity of Mount Sinai.
VOL. I. K