Page 207 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

188 COAST OF ARABIA. [CH.

friend the Sheikh, without whose sanction the
commandant declared it would be impossible
to proceed into the interior, or even to the
distance of a few hundred yards in that direc­
tion ; but after a delay of several hours, a
party of about a dozen men volunteering to
accompany me, we proceeded on our journey,
notwithstanding the urgent remonstrances of
the officer. An attack was evidently antici­

pated. We proceeded with matches lighted,
and on approaching a suspicious spot, a scout
was sent forward to reconnoitre. I have since
heard that a marauding party from the hills
had been seen prowling in the vicinity, and
was the cause of these precautions. I merely
mention this to show the hostile feeling ex­
isting between the garrison and the people,
among whom they were compelled to take
& up their quarters.
§
- On quitting the fort, we continued in a
south-east direction through a valley, where

% fresh water is obtained at the depth of one or
two feet from the surface ; on either side of us
hills of dark granite rose to a considerable
§
I height, terminating in rugged peaks. A sin­
gular effect is produced in their appearance
by thin and shining white veins, which run