i88i] A JOURNEY IN THE HEjAZ 551 



in crops, with ample fields especially rich in grapes, and 

 famed for its raisins. Most of the fruit for Mecca is brought 

 from it. It stands on the ridge of Mount Ghazwan, 

 than which no mountain of the Hejaz has a colder summit, 

 ice being sometimes found on it even in summer. There 

 are some things in this description which are not very 

 intelligible. I found no one in Taif who knew the name 

 of Mount Ghazwan, and the city, though it lies very high, 

 is not placed on a mountain ridge, but in the centre of an 

 upland plain. It is still celebrated for its climate, its 

 waters, its fields, and its fruits. Its grapes are sold in 

 Mecca and Jeddah for six or seven months of the year ; 

 but the fame of its raisins seems to have been transferred 

 to the dates, of which it produces a unique species as 

 long as one s finger. Of other fruits, the most famous 

 is a peculiar pomegranate, weighing two pounds, with 

 small seeds ; but all the fruits of Syria are grown apricots, 

 peaches, quinces, pears, plums, plantains, the cactus fig, 

 and so forth. The sweet waters are less copious than of 

 old times, for some of the ancient springs have failed ; 

 but, besides many wells, there are still four fountains, 

 Shubra, Jal, El Mithna, and El Waht. The well of 

 Shubra is that from which the inhabitants drink. It is 

 conducted along the eastern wall of the town in a sub 

 terranean conduit, with two pits for drawing water, and 

 then flows northward to irrigate the great Shubra orchard. 

 El Jal is also to the east of the town ; the other two lie 

 above the city, El Mithna about a mile from its gates at 

 a point called Ethna el Taif, and El Waht farther up. 

 The fountains and wells, which never fail, secure consider 

 able cultivation in all seasons ; but there are large tracts 

 of good land which can only be cultivated after rain. 

 Two good rains are sufficient for the wheat crop, but of 

 late years the rain has often failed, and prices have risen 

 greatly. At the date of our arrival, the long-continued 

 drought was causing great anxiety. There had been 

 rain in the beginning of the Hajj that is, in the end of 



