Page 429 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

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SOUTHERN ARABIA. [CH.

some fragments of wood and stone, are all
that now remain of this barrier: a few yards

beyond, we'arrived at the termination of the
defile, which is blocked up by a square tower,
where, as this pass commands the only ap­
proach to the town on the land side, a guard
is constantly stationed. Like the rest of the
fortifications, it is of Turkish erection, and
like them, has fallen sadly to decay. On the
roof, two small pieces of artillery are planted.
After passing through this tower, we obtain a

splendid view of Back Bay, which resembles
an extensive lake, studded with dark, rocky
islets. We next descended by a steep road
to the hollow which skirts its limits, after
passing the ruins of a custom-house, and a
few yards beyond it, a Sheikh’s tomb, the in­
terior of which is concealed from view by a
screen.
The greater number of the camels had
now assembled, and we continued our jour­
ney without any order or arrangement. As
far as the eye could reach, nothing but a
dead level flat, without any signs of vege­
table life, presented itself. Over several
branches of the sea narrow bridges have