Page 209 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

190 COAST OF ARABIA. [CH.

arid, parched surface of the surrounding
desert.
-I
At the distance of about ten miles from the
fort, we arrived at a rocky valley in which
Jl
were the ruins. Its general direction was
north-east, and throughout its whole length,
which may be estimated at about two miles,
: lay extensive ruins, scattered at different in­
tervals. Two hills projected across it, leaving

a narrow defile in the centre, and bearing
traces of two small fortresses on either brow.
Amidst the ruins of the houses, I measured
some remains of walls full six feet in thick­
ness, and partly built of hewn stone. From
these being of so massive a construction, I
conceived it could not have been an Arab
town, and the Bedowins, when referred to,
pronounced it to be of Nassara, or Christian
origin; but beyond this, nothing warranted
my forming any opinion as to its character.
Adjoining the ruins, there is a singularly-

formed hill of limestone, from the southern
li
% side of which the materials used for con­
1
structing the town appear to have been chiefly
derived. The Bedowins who accompanied
us pointed out the mouths of several caverns,