536 Inscriptions from Hammam, §c. [Oct. 



returning direct to Gossyrh, we chose a path nearer to the distant 

 range of Assad, and after much fatigue, and some little risk, we 

 arrived at the old fort of Maaba, about 12 o'clock at night. We 

 were led to make this deviation in consequence of the character we 

 received of the fort from the natives, who informed us, it was composed 

 entirely of hewn stone, and in a high state of preservation ; a distant 

 hope too of finding further inscriptions prompted us to visit the place. 

 In our search for inscriptions, we were disappointed, neither could 

 we learn from the people about, that there existed any. This, how- 

 ever, should not damp a person's ardour in quest of antiquities, as many 

 of the Arabs positively cannot recognize writing when they see it, if 

 it differ at all from the modern Arabic. We saw an instance of this at 

 Hammam ; having accidentally found a few characters engraved on a 

 stone on the road side, we immediately stopped to take a copy, while 

 the Bedouins anxiously inquired, " why we were writing the stone," as 

 they simply expressed it ; and on being informed that we were copying 

 the writing upon the stone, they seemed half incredulous about it. A 

 short time after this, one of them took me to look at a stone on which 

 he said there was some writing ; it proved, however, to be nothing but 

 some natural marks on the surface of the rock, and when I told him 

 this, he laughed, and candidly told me he knew no better. 



The fort of Maaba, to all appearance, has been strong and well 

 constructed, of stones and mortar ; though the former are not hewn, as 

 we were informed they were. There are no embrasures for guns, but 

 numerous loop-holes for muskets or matchlocks. The plan of the 

 building seems good for defence, and its position admirably chosen on 

 a rising ground, in the point of convergence of three fertile valleys well 

 cultivated and thickly planted with date groves. It was said, this 

 was one of the castles that defended the market road to Hadramaut, 

 where are many others of a similar description. The road still passes 

 under its dilapidated walls. From hence to Gossyrh is about five or 

 six miles. 



April 1st, 1835. — In prosecuting the survey of the coast, we again 

 heard of some inscriptions about 40 miles to the eastward of Hammam. 

 Lieut. Sanders, Mr. Smith, and myself, with the concurrence of 

 Captain Haines, started off for the purpose of copying them, after 

 having previously examined the ruins of Hasan Mesdndh, 

 situated close to the beach, on a gentle insulated eminence. The 

 foundation wall is now all that remains, the stones of which have 

 evidently been hewn, and strongly cemented with mortar. Every 

 thing around bears striking testimony of its antiquity. It has 

 originally served for the protection of a village, the position of which 



