DESCRIPTION OF ARABIA. 51 



is the desert of Akhaf ; so that Nejed is surrounded 

 on every side by immense sandy plains. Many parts 

 in the interior are well watered, and celebrated for 

 their excellent pastures. There are also many re- 

 mains of ancient buildings, of very massive struc- 

 ture and large dimensions, but in a state of complete 

 ruin. Innumerable wadys are imbosomed in the 

 hills, Avhich abound with fruits and grain of the finest 

 quality. Yet the occasional want of rain causes 

 frequent scarcities, which happen every three or 

 four years, and are generally accompanied with 

 epidemical disease. The comitry of Nejed is sub- 

 divided, according to Mengin, into twelve or fourteen 

 smaller provinces, among which some include El 

 Hassa. 



Ared, 

 Woshem, 

 Soudeir, 

 Kas)Ta, 



Haryk, 



Kharaj, 



Gebel, 



Shahran, 



Dowjiser, 

 Soubeah, 

 Aflaj, 

 Beishe. 



Ared contains the capital city, Deraiah ; but it is 

 not so populous as Beishe, nor so fertile as Kasym, 

 which is the richest province in Nejed. Kharaj is 

 the same as the district of Yemama, and its chief 

 town is still called by that name. The most remark- 

 able mountains in Nejed are Shammar, Khora, 

 Salma, Shahak, and Toweik. Shammar stands near 

 the great route from Damascus, and is, properly 

 speaking, a district by itself. It rises behind a 

 sandy desert, and is covered with forests and vil- 

 lages. In height and extent it resembles Mount 

 Lebanon, and is seen by the pilgrims at a great dis- 

 tance. Above a hundred towns and villages have 

 been enumerated in this extensive region ; but this 

 amount is probably much imderrated, as there are 

 large tracts still miexplored by Europeans. What 



22. — Gibb. Rom. Hist., chap, xxiv, — British officers still find the 

 same species of game that amused the soldiers of Cyrus. — Kep' 

 peFs Narrative, vol. i. chap. v. ; Sadlier's Itiner. 



