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COAST OF NUBIA. [CH.

were either but very partially acquainted
with the doctrines of the Koran, or else ob­
served them but loosely.
Leaving the Berenice range to the south­
ward, there is nothing in a low rocky coast

peculiar or striking, until we approach the
mountainous masses known to the Arabs
by the name of Jebel Olba; several ob­
servations enabled us to fix the summit of
the highest at eight thousand feet; and their
peaks are seldom free of clouds. This great
elevation would render them sufficiently dis­
tinguishable without further remark, espe­

cially as there are no hills of equal elevation
near them.
From a note in Burckhardt, which I re­
membered having perused while in India, I
was induced to make particular inquiries of
the Bedowins respecting some excavations
which that traveller was several times in­
formed, both in Syria and Egypt, existed on
the sea-shore near this mountain. The only
excavations they appear to possess any know­

ledge of, and which are without doubt those
in question, are the shafts of some silver
mines near the summit of this mountain.
These were worked to a considerable extent