Page 456 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XXV.] NAKAB EL HAJAR. 417

shoots; so that after our journey over a dreary
waste of burning sand, their verdure was an
inexpressible relief to the eye.

At five p.m., again mounting our camels,
we continued in a west-north-westerly direc­
tion along the valley. It is about one mile
and a half in width, and the bank on either

side, with the ground over which we were
passing, afforded abundant evidence of its
having been the bed of a powerful stream but

a short time previous. The country also be­
gins to assume a far different aspect. Numer­
ous hamlets, interspersed amidst extensive

date groves, verdant fields of jowari, and
herds of sleek cattle, show themselves in
every direction, and we now fell in with
parties of inhabitants for the first time since

leaving the sea-shore. Astonishment was de­
picted on their countenances, but as we did
not halt, they had no opportunity of gratifying

their curiosity by gazing at us for any length
of time. But to compensate for their dis­
appointment, one of our party remained

behind, to communicate what he knew of us.
In answer to the usual queries, who we were ?
were we Mussulmans ? what was the nature

vol. i. 2 E