Page 31 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

14 TOR TO SUEZ. [CII.

Wadi Feiran, nearer and directly in the line
of their inarch, affords an abundance of both.
But this subject will be more fully discussed
at the conclusion of the present narrative.
The Haji, or Mohammedan pilgrims, pro­
ceeding to or returning from Mecca, give im­
plicit credence to the tradition, and believe
its waters to be efficacious in removing cuta­
neous and other topical disorders. So little
attention was however paid to its condition,
that we found its roof had fallen in and

nearly choked up the fountain. The water
is beautifully clear, but it has a slight sul­

phureous smell, with a strong saline and
bitter taste. On immersing a Fahrenheit’s
thermometer, it rose to 86°, which indicates
that the temperature is not greater than that
of the atmosphere here during summer.
In the vicinity of the Bath there are some
remains of rudely-constructed buildings, which
most probably served as habitations to those
whom the reputation of its waters attracted
thither. The valley, in the vicinity of the
fountain, otherwise abounds in water, and

there are some large pools a few yards to the
southward of it. Its quality is, however, so