ME. E. M. BEDHEAD ON THE FLOEA OF SINAI. 221 



On this coast occur several trees of the Doom Palm {HypJicene 

 tTiebaicu)^ peculiar as a palm on account of its numerous branches. 

 I did not see the fruit, which is said to be eaten in Egypt, where 

 the tree is common. 



In Wadj-el-Huweimirat I found a Cassia (C cegyptiacd) and a 

 climbing Asclepiad with white flowers {Marsdenia erecta, which I 

 saw again in the Jordan valley), a small lilac Centaurea, Medi- 

 cago Selioo with its curious snail-like legume, and the Bitter 

 Apple {Cucumis colocyntliis^ (of which afterwards in the Nuhkl 

 desert we saw numerous dry, apple-like fruits), O^vonis viscosa, 

 Fagonia cistoides, Pulicaria undulata^ &c. 



Our encampment at 'Akaba was under the shade of the palm- 

 grove, close to the almost tideless waters of the Q-ulf; and the 

 heat exceeded anything I ever experienced, being, with a north 

 wind blowing, as high as 112°rahr. in the shade at 1 p.m. 



I must not pause to speak of the disappointment with which 

 we learned the impossibility of proceeding via Petra, nor of the 

 courteous, frank, and honourable conduct of the Sheikh of 'Akaba, 

 in refusing our money, on the ground that he was unable to fulfil, 

 as he woxild wish, his part of the bargain relative to our escort, 

 but will suppose us once more en route^ now westward, ascending 

 the difficult pass Nukb, on to the limestone tableland of Et-Tih, 

 the central desert, towards Nuhkl — a journey of three days, with 

 very little to interest. 



Wide, almost boundless plains of dry greyish limestone, with 

 hardly a depression to vary the monotony, led us even to rejoice 

 in the frequent mirage, which we saw here in perfection. In front 

 of us appeared to extend a beautiful lake, with trees and build- 

 ings rising on its shores ; at times even the ripple of its waters 

 appeared to be visible ; but, of course, as we approached it gave 

 place to dry, hard, verdureless gravel- 

 March 16 was the first day since leaving Cairo on which we 

 had seen a cloud ; the morning was dull, and the dew so heavy that 

 tlie outer covering of my tent was soaked with moisture. AVe 

 this day saw a little grass springing, sufficient, in the slight de- 

 pressions of the wadies, to give a tinge of green to the otherwise 

 bare, dry gravel. I have seldom seen so desolate a place as Khan 

 Nuhkl, a halting-place on the Ilaj (pilgrim) road to Mecca, mid- 

 way between 'Ajrud and 'Akaba — the only place in which water 

 IS to be had at all, and what is there is indifferent and very saline. 

 Nuhkl stands 1494 feet above the Mediterranean. 



Dry sunburnt gravel and chalk weary the eye on all sides ; and 



