■^9l'4^] BAKBOUR — REPTILES FROM SINAI AND SYRIA 75 



April 10. We went over a high pass, and descended to a palm 

 grove and spring of Hodra. Continued down the valley of Hodra, 

 and camped about half-way down the valley that night. 



April 11. In the morning we hunted ibex, and in the afternoon 

 we made a few miles, to the spring of Wady Hodra, where we 

 camped for the night, this point being at about sea level. 



April 12. We reached the Gulf of Akaba in about four hours' 

 ride through a narrow canyon, and camped near Nuheibeh, where 

 there are a few palm trees and some water seeping up through the 

 sand. 



April 13. We marched along the beach of the Gulf of Akaba, 

 and camped at Abu Suweira, where there were some clumps of rank 

 grass and palm scrub close to the beach. 



April 14. We marched along the beach, camping at Wady 

 Kureiyeh near a small island with an old Turkish castle upon it. 



April 15. We marched around the head of the Gulf of Akaba, 

 and arrived at the extensive palm groves of Akaba in a few hours. 



April 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, we stayed at Akaba, being unable to 

 leave because the mule caravan sent from Jerusalem was delayed. 



April 22. We started with a new caravan of horses and mules, 

 and camped at Ain Abu Heran. 



April 23. During this day the country became less rugged, 

 the valleys widened out, and the fu'st spots of very rude cultiva- 

 tion were encountered. 



April 24. After passing over a very monotonous, stony and 

 sandy desert, w^e came to the abrupt edge of the Syro-Arabian 

 escarpment. The ascent to the upper desert is very steep and 

 occupies about two hours. The top of the plateau here is about 

 4600 feet; from it one can look dowTi upon a long stretch of the 

 great desert of the Arabah, the southward continuation of the 

 Dead Sea depression. Rude cultivation begins at this point, 

 all along the edge of the plateau. Camped at the fine spring of 

 Fueileh. 



April 25. A very cold morning with a slight frost. Went over 

 a nearly flat country, getting gradually into a stony desert as we 

 approached el Maan, this point being on the Hejaj railroad. 



April 26. We rode to Petra, the first few miles being over stony 



