Page 480 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XXVI.] NAKAB EL HAJAR. 439

midnight, we travelled until four, but losing

our way, halted until daylight. At this
time a heavy dew was falling, and Fahren­

heit’s thermometer stood at 58°; it was con­
sequently so chilly, that we were happy to

wrap ourselves up in our boat-cloaks.
At eight hours we again halted at the well

to replenish our skins, previous to re­
crossing the sandy hillocks, and then con­

tinued on our journey. From nine a.m. this
day, until P30, we endured a degree of

heat I never felt equalled. Not a breath of
wind was stirring, and the glare produced by

the white sand felt almost intolerable. At
two hours our guides were so much ex­

hausted, that we were obliged to halt for an
hour. At 530 we arrived at the date-groves,

near to ’Ain Abix Mabuth, where there is a
small village, and some fountains of pure

water, about fifteen feet square and three
deep.

At seven hours we reached the beach,
which we followed until we came opposite to

the vessel. It was however too late for us to
be solicitous about making a signal to those

on board for a boat; and I was moreover
desirous, from what we overheard between the