214 John Hogg, Esq., on the Geography and 
6000 feet. He describes the surface of them “as dark, veined 
with numerous traces of torrents of a lighter colour, every- 
where intersecting it.” 
Makna or Magnah is placed a little off the sea-shore, and 
has about 200 huts, wherein the cultivators of the numerous 
date trees, that are grown in the valley, running east and 
west, reside. A large stream—a very rare thing in this 
region—flows down the Wadi, and waters the trees. The 
groves are fenced round, and within the enclosures, corn, 
figs, grapes, limes, and other fruits, and some vegetables, 
are cultivated. Some ruins are visible on a mound near the 
end of the date plantation, indicating, perhaps, the site of 
Madian of the Arabian writers, or Modiana of Ptolemy; 
and other remains are said to exist about ten miles distant, 
at a place known to the Arabs by the name of Magharat 
Shoaib, meaning, the “ Cave of Shoaib,” or Jethro (Moses’ 
father-in-law), where are reported to be some inscriptions 
containing the names of kings. 
Gebel Makna, a mountain of granite, elevates itself from 
the other side of the fertile valley to the south. 
Thence extends the low steril beach of marine formation, 
shells and gravel, the latter being often blown by the winds 
into ridges, like waves; afterwards, as far as the south-west 
point at Ras Furtak, a portion of the secondary limestone 
again succeeds. This formation also is found in the northern 
part of the opposite Isle of Tiran,* whilst in its southern part, 
which ascends to a high peak, sandstone prevails; but,in places 
along its shores, coraland other marine substances occur. Much 
naphtha is procured from the island. An admirable harbour, 
though somewhat difficult to enter, lies on the north-east side. 
The extreme low and bare tongues of land, south and east of 
* As Procopius (De Bell. Pers., lib. i., cap. 19) tells us, that land was visible 
on all sides of the sea, in proceeding from Aila, until one came to the Isle of 
Jotabe (‘Iwré8n) which was distant, not less than 1000 (itinerary) stadia from 
that town; and from thence, the sea became very extended. This description 
perfectly agrees with the present Isle of Ziran. But it seems not unlikely that 
one of the neighbouring isles, called Jubah, or Jubeh, has retained the name of 
Jotabe, or Jutabeh, now abbreviated into Jubeh. 
