Page 129 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

110 SURVEY OF THE [cm.

posed, not of sand, but of broken sea-shells
and gravel, into ridges, resembling in appear­
ance the waves of the sea. As there is no
pasturage, this part of Arabia is but seldom
visited by the Bedowins.
The wind, the second day after our arrival,
having to appearance moderated, I left the
ship in our launch for the purpose of explor­
ing a part of the opposite coast where I was

led to expect there were some ruins. After
a tempestuous passage—for it proved to be
merely a deceitful lull in-shore, and to be
blowing with its usual violence outside—we
effected a landing at a small date-grove about
three miles below the extensive plantation of
Nebk. Several Arabs, who from the neigh­
bouring heights had been watching our ap­
proach, now joined us, and were very impor­
tunate as to the object our vessel had in view
in visiting their coast. I believe, although Tow­
ard Bedowins, and more under the immediate
control of the Pacha than the other tribes, that

their cupidity was excited by what they saw
with us, and that our interview might have ter­

minated unpleasantly but for the interference
of an old fisherman, whose boat, it appeared,