ARABIA, THE DESERT OE THE SEA 



1049 



THE CASTLE OF MARID 



This formidable structure, now in ruins, stands at the north end of El Jowf, in North 

 Arabia. The Arabs think it contains treasure buried there by the ancients. It serves no 

 purpose at the present time. 



regard being paid to etiquette as if they 

 were assembled in the most spacious 

 guest-room in the largest city in the 

 country. 



Conversation never lags, and until late 

 in the evening the men talk, some telling 

 imaginary stories, others reciting im- 

 promptu poetry, until, tired out, all ex- 

 cept those designated to keep watch roll 

 up in their large cloaks and are soon 

 sound asleep. 



The first thing to be seen of El Jowf 

 as it is approached from the north is the 

 great castle which rears its head high 

 above everything else in the oasis. This 

 building, which is circular in form, bears 

 the name "Marid," and the ignorant 

 Jofees believe that a large amount of 

 valuable treasure lies hidden somewhere 

 in the castle, but they are helpless to 

 locate it. 



This castle was at one time the strong- 

 hold of El Jowf and is no doubt of Arab 

 construction, but as there is no use for 

 it at the present time it is falling into 

 decay. I was not allowed during my 

 stay in the Jowf to go into the castle, 

 although I took a very good photograph 

 of i+. 



El Jowf is unlike other Arabian cities 

 in that it is long and scattered, most of 

 the houses being concealed among the 

 palms, thus making it very difficult to 

 estimate its size or the number of its 

 dwellings. The city is probably two 

 miles long and about a quarter of a mile 

 wide. 



The houses are all built of mud sun- 

 dried bricks ; many of them are three 

 stories high, and all have flat roofs. 

 The interior is quite void of furniture, 

 the coffee roaster, pounder, pots, and 



