174 HEJAZ. 



Jidda, views of which are given by Head and 

 Niebuhr, is described by travellers as a pretty town, 

 built upon a slightly-rising ground, the lower part of 

 which is washed by the sea. It extends along the 

 shore more than half a mile. On the land-side it is 

 surrounded by a wall in a tolerable state of repair, 

 but of no strength. Its watch-towers are mounted 

 with a few rusty guns, one of which is famous over 

 all the Red Sea, and may be called the Mons Meg of 

 Arabia, as it is said to carry a ball of 100 lbs. weight, 

 A ditch ten feet wide and twelve deep is carried 

 along its whole extent ; and there is a battery, which 

 guards the entrance from the sea and commands the 

 harbour. The approach from the shore is by the 

 quays, where small boats discharge the cargoes of 

 the large ships ; the latter being obliged to anchor 

 in the roadstead, at the distance of two miles. The 

 entrance is shut every evening at sunset ; and thus, 

 during night, all communication is prevented be- 

 tween the town and the shipping. 



On the land-side are two gates leading to Mecca 

 and Medina ; opposite these the ditch is filled with 

 -rubbish, which serves instead of a drawbridge. The 

 'suburbs contain only huts formed of reeds, rushes, 

 or brushwood, inhabited by peasants, labourers, and 

 Bedouins. The streets of the town are unpaved, 

 but, on the whole, regular, spacious, and airy. The 

 houses are two or three stories high, handsome, and 

 generally built of large blocks of very fine madre- 

 pore -, though uniformity of architecture is not ob- 

 served. There is usually a spacious hall at the 

 entrance, where strangers are received, and which, 

 during the heat of the day, is cooler than any other 

 part of the house, the floor being kept continually 

 wet. There the master, with all his male attend- 

 ants, hired servants, and slaves, may be seen at 

 noon enjoying the siesta. The doorways are ele- 

 gantly arched, and covered with zigzag fretwork 

 ornaments carved in the stone. The windows are 



