— 
Geology of Mount Sinai and the adjacent Countries. 207 
raised above high water level. Also the same author says 
“the epithet Golden” appears to have originated from “ the 
sand in its vicinity resembling” gold. ‘‘ The teeth of two 
ibices we received on board were covered with a substance 
resembling gold.”* This sand may possibly be derived from 
pyrites, washed down by the winter rains from Wadi-el-Sal ; 
the rocky sides of the lower part of which valley are sand- 
stone, 
Dahab extends into the gulf, about 2 miles beyond the 
line of the coast, and must have been in former ages, in ac- 
cordance with every probability, an important sea-port. 
Wellsted observed, to the west of a long projecting point, 
some mounds like those covering ruins. Certain geographers 
have thought it likely that this was the site of Eziongaber. 
Bochart (Canaan, p. 764) having interpreted that word as 
meaning a “ backbone” or “spine.” Wellsted writes that the 
peculiar formation of the harbour at Dahab adds strength to 
the supposition, for within its spine-like ridge of rocks there is 
a Spacious anchorage. Since that ancient port, however, was 
“ beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of 
Edom” (1 Kings ix., 26), Dahab, which was not in that 
territory, but in the /and of Midian, being distant full 75 miles 
from Ailah, could no¢ possibly be said to be “ beside Eloth’’ 
or Ailah, the ancient position of which is well determined. 
Busching} indeed, with less reason, places Eziongaber, at 
Sherm, Jeyond the Strait of Tiran. But Burckhardt (p. 523) 
suggested that “ Dahab is probably the Dizahab mentioned 
in Deut.i. 1.” This has been correctly acquiesced in by se- 
veral authors. 
Journeying northwards, the cliffs close to the sea at Ras 
Methna are of granite and red porphyry, crossing each other 
in irregular layers, On the shore near there, the granite 
sand carried down from the upper mountains, mixed with 
fragments of different rocks, has been cemented by the action 
of the waters into a beautiful dreccia, Gebel Abu Ma consists 
of granite ; but some miles further north, the promontory Ras 
* Arabia, vol. ii., p. 154. 
+ Geogr. of Asia, p. 620, Third Edition. 
