Page 33 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

1G t6r TO SUEZ. [CH.

After an interesting examination of the
vicinity ofT6r, I proceeded to visit the Jebel
Makateb, or Written Mountain, concerning
which the learned have so long been divided
in opinion. Inscriptions are found in many
other parts of the peninsula, but in no part
which I have visited, are they so numerous as
on this mountain. Yet I am not aware that
any description has been published, or fac­

similes of its writings been transmitted to
Europe. Whilst Niebuhr resided at Cairo,
he made a separate journey to effect this pur­
pose; but his guide mistook the object of his
inquiries, and conducted him to the sepulchral
monuments of Sarbout el Kadam, so that he
returned without being able to accomplish it.
As the cliffs in the vicinity rise abruptly from
the sea, and the neighbouring valleys are
wholly destitute of pasturage, it was not with­
out some difficulty that I could obtain a person
at Tor to conduct me thither.

Quitting T6r, we continued our route on
foot along the face of the Jebel Heman chain,
here about 250 feet in height. The path was so
narrow, that in some places we scrambled over
it with difficulty; and the sea, then agitated