Page 78 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

IV.] SHE KM TO SINAI. 59

from whence water may be procured. At the
period of our visit the Hajj * boats were sup­
plied from some rudely-constructed wells, near
a few date trees, about 150 yards from the
beach ; but the water is of a very indifferent
quality, and would not be tolerated by Euro­

peans. The Bedowins are unwilling to part
with the few sheep they possess, and no other
supplies are procurable here. The red and
yellow earths which abound in the hills in
the vicinity of the anchorage, are used by the
Arab mariners for their boats as substitutes
for paint; and near the tomb in Sherm-el-
Sheikli they procure an abundance of rock-
salt. As a plan of these inlets accompanies
the chart, it will be unnecessary for me to
mention more than that, for shipping, the north­

ern one appears preferable to the southern.
Travellers proceeding in native boats to
Kosai'r, who are less anxious to visit Thebes,
and to sail on that part of the Nile be­
tween it and Cairo, than to effect a quick
passage to Europe, may probably feel dis­

posed to land here, and proceed on camels
directly to T6r or Suez. The Nakhodasf

* Pilgrimage. r Arab captains.