Page 210 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

X.] COAST OF ARABIA. 191

but no persuasion or offer of reward would in­

duce them to enter what they believed to be
the abode of spirits.
I had been informed of the existence of
caves near this spot, and had therefore pro­
vided myself with ropes and lights. After
penetrating to some depth in various direc­
tions, I found that the centre of the hill sunk
considerably, leaving between it and the roof,

which was a mere shell, extensive cavities,
which served as a retreat for hyeenas and
jackals. We found the bones of men, camels,
&c., which these indefatigable prowlers had
brought from different parts of the desert. A
musket fired inside sent several of them
scampering out, to the great alarm of the
Bedowins, who stood at the entrance waiting
with great interest the result of our under­
taking.
During our stay at Wej-h, boats were con­
stantly arriving with pilgrims. At one period
there were about four thousand people as­

sembled here, mostly from Constantinople
and the Barbary States. With these the
officers and crew had frequent intercourse,
and never experienced on any occasion the