42 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 



CHAPTER VIII. 



wADY HARtJN TO THE DEAD SEA. 



The mouth of Widy Harlan into the 'Arabah is somewhat more than 

 half-way from 'Akabah to the Dead Sea. The watershed between the 

 Dead Sea and the Gulf of 'Akabah is nearer to 'Akabah. We estimated 

 its lowest point at 660 feet above sea-level. It lies on the west side of 

 the 'Arabah. At the mouth of Wady Harun the 'Arabah is at its widest, 

 being- about thirteen miles across. The total distance from 'Akabah to 

 the Dead Sea is 1 1 2 miles. 



My chief detour in this part of the 'Arabah was on the east side, up 

 a long valley to the Edomitic plateau, with Mr. Armstrong. On this 

 occasion we returned to the 'Arabah by a more northern valley, Wady 

 Ghuweir, which, from the numerous remains of encampments, tribe-marks 

 (' Wasm '), and the well-worn tracks, appeared to be a leading thorough- 

 fare into the Shobek country. 



In this wady are several springs, appearing, as is frequently the case, 

 at the union of the sandstone and limestone formations. One of these 

 springs supported a jungle of reeds, with palms and some interesting 

 composite species of luxuriant growth. Tamarisks, acacias, and nubk 

 trees (Zizyphus) were in some profusion, and on each of these three 

 trees the parasite, Loranthus acacice, Zucc, with its handsome red 

 flowers, was a conspicuous ornament. It was seen only two or three 

 times on the tamarisk, oftener on the nubk, but much more usually 

 on the acacia. Clinging to the reeds was an Asclepiad, Cynanchum 

 acutum, Linn., whose range is more Mediterranean than the others met 

 with. Amongst them was the stately Saccharum cBgypiiacum, TV., and 

 a shrubby composite, Pluchea dioscoridis, D.C., reached a height of 15 feet. 

 Its flowers were insignificant. A red-barked osier, Salix acmophylla, 

 Boiss., and a poplar, Populus euphratica, Linn., which is perhaps the 

 willow of Babylon, occurred along the margin of the short-lived stream. 

 Other species collected were : Erucavia aleppica, Linn.; Tribulus terres- 

 tris, Linn.; Ficus carica, Linn.; Salsola tetragona, Del., and others less 



