Page 173 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

154 SURVEY OF THE [CH.

and described as being covered by the sea at
high water, and at low appearing at intervals,
and whence was derived the name of Esion-
geber, or back-bone? Within there is a
spacious anchorage; and if steam navigation

extends to this gulf, it will be a most valuable
station.

The epithet “ Golden” does not, however,
asPocockewas informed, take its origin from
a tradition that gold was formerly brought
there; but rather, it would appear, from the
circumstance of the sand in its vicinity con­
taining yellow, shining, micaceous particles,
exactly resembling that precious metal. It
is also worthy of remark, that the teeth of two
Ibices we received on board were covered with
a substance resembling gold; and the same

peculiarity has been observed in other parts
of the world. On Mount Lebanon, the na­

tives observe a like appearance in their sheep,
through feeding on a certain herb, which,
could they discover, they believe would serve
as a guide to mines of that mineral. To the
westward of a long projecting point, which
bears evidence of having been formerly