ON PETRA, THE ROCK-HEWN CAPITAL OF IDUMMA. 149 
suppose that the design of the intended building having been 
roughly drawn on the face of the rock, the sculptors began 
their work at the top and completed 1t at the base, in a manner 
‘the opposite of that rendered necessary where hewn stone is 
used. It has been suggested that the Nabatheans were the 
descendants of the Rechabites, who were commanded by their 
father neither to build houses, sow seed, nor plant vineyards 
for ever. I do not know that there is much foundation for 
this view, but it seems to gain some support from the absence 
of domestic architecture in the Wady Musa. The tombs, 
temples, and palaces seem to constitute nearly the whole of 
the structures. The inhabitants were either troglodytes or 
dwellers in tents, perhaps both. That the architects and 
builders were visitors from Greece or Rome, following in the 
wake of the merchants and traders of the West, can scarcely 
admit of a doubt; their names, their very countries, are un- 
known to us, but their works remain, splendid monuments of 
a bygone art and civilisation. 
The Cuarrman (W. N. West, Esq.).—I am sure we are all greatly obliged 
to Professor Hull for his most interesting paper, and I have to tender him 
the cordial thanks of the Meeting. 
Professor Hurt, F.R.S.—Permit me to thank the Chairman and those 
present for the kind manner in which my paper has been received. 
It has been suggested to me that it might be of some interest 
if I were to give a short vivd voce description of the manner 
in which the Expedition got into Petra on the oecasion of which 
I have spoken, at the end of the year 1883. Our party had gone 
up the Arabah valley from the head of the Gulf of Akabah, and under 
the guidance of the brother of the chief of the Allowin, who undertook 
to conduct us safely, not to the Dead Sea, where we wanted to go, 
but to Gaza,— though this was afterwards overruled, a little additional 
money payment having overcome his scruples as to taking us down to the 
Dead Sea. On getting to the valley which leads up from the great valley 
of Arabah towards Petra we conceived the idea that we might accomplish 
what the late Professor Palmer achieved, namely, the ascent of Mount Hor, 
and that we could do this, and get down into Petra, without being observed 
by the Arabs. However, on arriving at the foot, we found that the whole 
of the mountain was very carefully guarded by the Arabs, and that to ascend 
Mount Hor without detection would be impossible, inasmuch as our lives 
would have been sacrificed if we made the attempt. We therefore made 
a virtue of necessity, and pitched our camp at the entrance to the gorge. 
It was not long before we were visited by a party of the Petra Arabs, with 
no fewer than four of their subordinate chiefs. Unfortunately, Arari, the 
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