Page 385 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

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COAST OF NO III A. [CH.

pose of examining it. After four hours’ walk
across an arid, stony country, it proved to be

a regular octagonal building, apparently of
great age; the sides were six feet in thick­
ness, and well constructed of hewn coral and
sandstone; their height was sixteen feet, and
at the angles, they were elevated about two
feet, gradually sloping down towards the in­
termediate space. The roof was flat, and
similar in construction to the ground plan of
the building, but so placed, that its angles
intersected those formed by the walls, and
surmounted by a dome that had formerly

been covered with cement. On each of the
four sides of the building there was origi­

nally a small gothic arched window, facing
the cardinal points ; but that over the door
on the eastern side has been filled up. In
the interior, we observed a plain tomb, with­
out ornament or inscription. Several graves
were scattered around, all having the double
circle of stones which I have already noticed.
At a few yards distance, there are traces
of a camel route, so that I have little doubt
this monument covers the remains of some
pilgrims of distinction, who died when pro-