58 DESCRIPTION OF ARABIA. 



The whole of this rugged tract is intersected 

 with innumerable wadys, some of which are nearly 

 as barren as the rocks ; while others nourish shrubs, 

 fruit-trees, and occasionally a most luxuriant vege- 

 tation. The valley of the mountainous range, called 

 El Tyh, which forms the northern boundary of the 

 Sinai group, affords excellent pasturage and fine 

 springs, though not in great numbers. Wady Leja, 

 near Gebel Mousa, is represented by Burckhardt as 

 most delightful. It is small ; but so brilliant was the 

 verdure, and so aromatic the perfume of the orange- 

 trees that grew in an orchard, that he fancied him- 

 self transported from the cliffs of the wilderness 

 to the deUcious groves of Antioch. It is supposed 

 to be the valley of Rephidim, and opens into an 

 extensive plain towards the north-east. 



Wady Sheik, and its continuation Wady Feiran, 

 which separates Mount Serbal from the Upper Sinai, 

 is considered the finest valley in this part of the 

 Arabian peninsula. From the higher extremity an 

 uninterrupted succession of gardens and date-planta- 

 tions extends downwards for several miles; and 

 almost every one of these has a well, by means of 

 which the grounds are irrigated during the whole 

 year. The waters collected from the lateral ravines 

 empty themselves through Feiran into tlie Gulf of 

 Suez. Wady Kyd, between Shomar and the Gulf 

 of Akaba, is a very romantic spot, and one of the 

 most famous date-valleys in the district. It is trav- 

 ersed by a small rivulet, overshadowed by trees, 

 with fine verdure on its banks. The rocks that 

 overhang it almost meet, and give to the whole the 

 appearance of a grotto. Similar descriptions might 

 be extended to numerous other valleys ; but enough 

 has been said to convey a tolerable idea of the na- 

 ture of this remarkable peninsula. 



A region so extensive as Arabia, varying in ele- 

 vation, in climate, and soil, must naturally be sub- 

 ject to considerable irregularities of temperature, 



