Page 158 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

VIII.] GULF OF ’AKABAH. 139

fleshy. The latter are mountaineers, inhabit­
ing the lofty chain which towers above us ; the
former reside on the sea-coast, where the poor­
ness of their diet of course contributes to their
meagre appearance, Their character with
the neighbouring Bedowins is held in great
disrepute. A few years ago a large bagald

found its way from Jiddah to this point.
Some quarrel having occurred in the caravan
route, her arrival was a speculation to supply
the towns of Syria with coffee from this point;
but, after the conveyance of the bales had been
agreed on, and the last bale was landed, the
Sheikh decamped and shared the whole with
his followers. The recollection of this event
is still urged by their neighbours as a reproach
on the good faith of its perpetrators. A small
bagald, the wreck of which we saw at Mag-
nah, has alone since ventured up the Gulf of
’Akabah.

Towards sunset a southerly breeze sprung
up, and the ship swung round on the rocks.
Fortunately we found bottom outside in sixty
fathoms, by which we were enabled to warp
her a few yards from them; but, if the
breeze had freshened, we must inevitably have