Page 77 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)

58 8 HER INI TO SINAI. [CII.

lion, which is separated from the main by a
narrow and shallow passage. The land form­
ing the Cape is a long narrow tract nearly
divided, about six miles from the extreme, by
a deep bay. Five miles further to the north­
ward, a range of mountains takes its rise, and
extends nearly the whole length of the penin­
sula : their general elevation may be esti­
mated at from 300Q to 5000 feet; and during
the winter months, the summit of the highest
is frequently covered with snow.
About ten miles to the northward of the

Cape, there are two small harbours, separated
from each other by a narrow neck of land.
Both are included by the Arabs when speak­
ing of them under the appellation of Sherm *
or Shermun ; but they are also separately dis­
tinguished, one by the name of Sherm-el-
Sheikh, from the tomb of a Sheikh at the
extreme end of the bay, and the more north­
ern by that of Sherm-el-M6yah f, in which

we are now at anchor, from its having some
wells of water in its vicinity. These har­
bours were visited by Sir Home Popham in
1801, and are marked in his chart as spots
* Dsjerm in Niebuhr's Map. •I Water-bay.

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