Page 193 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

i
I 174 COAST OF ARABIA. [CH.

1 coarse grass, with numerous wild flowers and
plants. The trees are principally Acacias.
i
Mowllahh is merely remarkable for ils
castle, which, with several others, was built
■i on the route of the Egyptian caravan, to serve
as a granary and halting-place. Except in
I
1 size, they differ but little from each other,
being constructed of hewn coral, cemented
i with mortar. Their shape is quadrangular,
flanked with round towers, in which are placed
some old broken, and in many cases disman­
tled, guns. The upper part of the walls,

measuring thirty feet in height, is pierced
with loopholes for musketry, but their extent
would require a large force to defend them.
The troops occupy the interior along the
southern and western sides, the northern and
eastern being appropriated for the reception
of grain, &c.
Mohammed ’All, upon whom has devolved
the whole government of Hejaz, furnishes
these stations with the necessary supply of
grain; and the garrison, consisting of an

officer corresponding in rank to our serjeant,
and fifty men (Maghrebin* soldiers), is also
* Barbaresque Arabs.