Page 54 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

TOR TO SUEZ. :*5

consequence to strike off by W&di Taibi,
amidst the hills. I regretted this, because 1
was desirous of visiting the hot spring called
Hammam Pharoun, or “ Bath of Pharaoh/’
which is situated on the sea-side at the foot
of the cape. From my guides I learn that
pilgrims affected with leprosy and other cuta­
neous disorders are sometimes left here for
the purpose of using them, with provisions
and attendants, for several weeks: notwith­
standing the heat of the water is so great,

that the hand can with difficulty be borne in
it, these patients are said to bear immersion
for several hours.
From Ras Shiratrib to Hammam Bluff, a
distance of thirty-five miles, the coast forms
a deep bay, which the natives, most probably
from the tempestuous weather experienced
there, style Birket-el-Pharoun. Wadi Taibi
is narrow, and the heat and glare reflected
from the light-coloured hills on either hand,
in those places where the defile was but a few

yards in width, was almost overpowering.
There was not even a solitary cloud in the
deep blue canopy above to occasionally inter­
cept the scorching rays. A profound silence
d 2