Page 444 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XXV.] NAKAB EL HAJAR. 405

CHAPTER XXV.

Rds ul Aseida—Start for Nakab el Hajar—Shells—Diyabi Be-
dowins—Shifting Sands—Excessive Heat — III behaviour of
Guides—Caravanserai—Difference in Strength and Speed of
Camels—Ardk Trees—Curiosity of Natives—Kindness of an
old Arab woman—Author recognised as an Englishman.

During our survey of the south coast of

Arabia, while near the tower called Ba-’l-hafl’,
on the sandy cape of R.is ul Aseida, in lati­
tude 13° 57' north, longitude 46|° east nearly,

the Bedowins brought me intelligence that

extensive ruins, which they described as
having been erected by infidels, and of great

antiquity, were to be found at some dis­
tance from the coast. I was in consequence

most anxious to visit them, but the several
days we remained passed away, bringing no­

thing but empty promises on the part of

Hamed, the officer in charge of the tower, to
procure us camels and guides ; and at length,