Page 274 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

XII.] COAST OF ARABIA. 255

tween the two countries is only about one
hundred and sixty miles, being the width of

the Red Sea) it is well known rain proves of
rare occurrence. A season of drought, it is
calculated, occurs here about once in four
years: the floods during the rainy season pour
down from the hills with great violence, and
almost every part of the coast bears traces of
torrents formed during this season. Fogs
are not uncommon at Jiddah and in its
neighbourhood, but rarely prevail to the
northward of that port.
The Bedowins inhabiting this part of the

coast differ little in their habits or social
condition from those who occupy the deserts
of the interior. I observed a considerable
difference between the personal appearance
of the Arabs of Hejaz and those bordering
on the shores of the Arabian side of the
Persian Gulf. The characteristics of the
latter are an almost oval face, black hair,
generally close shaven, eyebrows of the same
colour, and a glossy skin, one shade lighter
than that of the natives of India. Those
near the shores of the Red Sea are lean, but
of a vigorous make, and more diminutive in