1818.] Account of Alexander Scott. . 123 



The first four or five days over hard clay, and very barren 

 ground ; for 11 days over sandy hills and valleys ; then for two 

 months over more hard ground, with some hills, but not high 

 ones, crossing some running waters of brackish quality, and 

 passing a salt-mine and a brimstone-mine ; then, after going for 

 two days through a wood, came again to sand. Saw no town, 

 but met occasionally with other parties of Arabs. This sandy 

 district took about a month to pass, and it was terminated by 

 arriving, without any previous distant view, at a large sea or 

 lake. The day was very clear; and mountains were discernible 

 on the opposite shore, but nearly resembling clouds. On the 

 bank of this sea they came to an assemblage of huts called El 

 Sharrag, belonging to the tribe of Orgaeleet. Here all the 

 camels, goats, and sheep, with two persons of each family, were 

 left. The remainder of the party were taken across the sea in a 

 large boat built of a hard red wood, and without any iron in its 

 construction, rowed by six blacks who were slaves, setting out 

 at sun-rise, going the whole of the day ; a little before sun-set 

 the anchor, a large stone, was let down, and the boat remained 

 stationary until sun-rise next morning, when they again set off, 

 and proceeded till sun-set on the second day, when they an- 

 chored as before. Soon after day-break on the third day went on 

 again, and about two o'clock in the afternoon arrived at the 

 shore, having gone straight across, making for the mountains, at 

 the foot of which they landed, in a district called El Hezh. The 

 water of this sea was smooth, had a deal of weed upon its sur- 

 face, was clear under the weed, perfectly fresh, and had no 

 appearance whatever of a current. Scott did not particularly 

 look for a termination of this lake at the higher or lower end as 

 he crossed, but is perfectly satisfied he did not see either end of 

 it. Its length is from N.E. to S.W., and the boatmen called it 

 the Bahar El Tee-eb. They also told him that to the southward 

 there was a large salt sea, which they called the Bahar El Ka- 

 bee-er, to which there was no end, and that the one they were 

 upon run into it, where there were many Saffina el Ka-bee-er, or 

 large ships, and a harbour called Bambarry. On the eastern 

 shore of the Bahar Tee-eb, where the party landed, was a 

 number of huts, built of wood, and covered with rushes. The 

 name of the country was El Hezh ; of the particular place, El 

 Tarsee Mahomet; and of the tribe inhabiting it, El Tarsee 

 del Hezh. Here were many pilgrims, accompanied by some 

 of whom the party with whom Scott was set out at sun- 

 the morning after their arrival to go into the country, 

 taking Scott with them, saying, they were going to Hez el 

 Hezh to Seedna Mahomet, where Scott must change his religion, 

 or if he did not Mahomet would rise up and kill him. They 

 proceeded through a crooked mountain route till about three 

 o'clock^ in about a south direction, when they arrived at a valley, 



