Geology of Mount Sinai and adjacent Countries. 273 



in Wadi Firan. Tobacco, a few cereales, legumes, and 

 pot-herbs, are likewise grown in the last fertile valley. 



In some districts, though particularly at Noweibia, a great 

 deal of charcoal is prepared from the Acacia trees. 



The domestic animals are camels or dromedaries, dogs, 

 goats, and small sheep ; but no cows, or oxen. 



Among the wild animals may be named, leopards, hyaenas, 

 the Wober or marmot ; the Beden, alpine goat or Ibex ; ante- 

 lopes, gazelles ; the Egyptian vultures, eagles, partridges, 

 quails, pigeons ; the Dhob or large lizard, serpents, scorpions, 

 and locusts. The gulfs abound in a variety of fishes, shells, and 

 corals ; and Burckhardt mentions pearls, as well as mother-of- 

 pearl being obtained near the Isle of Tiran. The mineral pro- 

 ducts have been sufficiently noticed ; but, concerning the 

 mountains^ which have really the best claim to the identity of 

 the tr%ie Sinai, it is not in this place to discuss ; and especially 

 as my remarks on this subject — derived from early history 

 I — are already published in another work.* Yet, I fully 

 concur with Dr Kitto (p. 54), that " there is no question that 

 this region is the scene of the wondrous transactions recorded 

 in the sacred books ; that these are the mountains which 

 quaked when the Lord came down in fire upon them ; and 

 that these are the valleys which then heard His voice." 



Neither will I here enumerate the Amalekites., Midianites, 

 or other ancient nations, to whom the Peninsula once be- 

 longed ; nor will I give any account of the present Arab 

 tribes which dwell therein ; but it is worthy of note that 

 many of these dwellers in tents, retain at this day their 

 primitive and scriptural customs. 



Traces of Egyptian colonists are still apparent in the mo- 

 numents at Sarbut el Chadem, and in the very ancient 

 tablets and hieroglyphics sculptured on the rocks in Wadi 

 Maghara. Some of these contain, as Dr Lepsius writes,! 

 " the oldest effigies of kings in existence, without excepting 



* Transactions of the Royal Society of Literature, vol. iii. 2d Series. 

 Part 2. 



t Tour to the Peninsula of Sinai, p. 17. 

 VOL. XLIX. NO. XCVIIL — OCTOBER 1850. 8 



