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XXVII. Account of an ancient Arabic Grave-Stotie, found at Dhalac-el Kibeer, 

 near Massowa/i, Abyssinia, decyphered by Graves C. Haughton, Esq., 

 A.M. F.R.S. M.R.A.S., ^x. 



Read July 3, 1830. 



The grave-stone, of which I propose to give a short account, was laid on 

 the table of this Society a few weeks back by Mr. Samuel D. Broughton, 

 the brother of our respected secretary. It had been left with him by the 

 late Mr. Salt ; but, since decyphering it, I have learnt that this and a 

 similar monument were found in the year 1805 by that gentleman when 

 accompanying Lord Valentia, now the Earl of Mount-Norris, at Dhalac-el- 

 Kibeer, near Massowah, on the coast of Abyssinia. The following account 

 of the discovery and bringing away of the stone is given in the second 

 volume of his lordship's travels, pp. 41-42 and 235-236.* 



" On the northern side (of the port of Dhalac-el- Kibeer) are the ruins 

 of two small mosques, built of stone, with round cupolas at top, but of a 

 rude workmanship. In the one towards the sea is an Arabic inscription 

 cut on a stone placed in a recess. Around the mosque a great number 

 of monumental stones are placed upright in the ground, at the heads of the 

 persons whom they commemorate ; many are well carved, and beautifully 

 adorned with flowers and other ornaments, some in the Cufic, some in 

 the Arabic character. As the stones are in general of a portable size, Mr. 

 Salt was desirous of taking one away ; but, as he was assured by the priest 

 that this could not be done without express permission from the Nayib of 

 Massowah, he contented himself with taking a copy of one inscription which 

 seemed to be held in the highest veneration, although externally it had 

 nothing to recommend it, being indifferently carved and having a corner 

 broken. The priest informed him that it belonged to the Sheik or Sultaun 



• 



Voyages and Travels to India, Ceylon, the Red Sea, Abyssinia, and Egypt, in the years 

 1802, 3, 4, 5, and 6, by George Viscount Valentia. London, 1809. 3 vols. 4to. 



Vol. II. 4. E 



