76 JIBEL NARSE. 



feeling of having at last entered upon the long 

 wished-for life of novel and wild adventure which, 

 from a boy, I had so ardently desired. Behind me 

 rose a succession of bare rugged hills, gradually 

 increasing in height till at the peak of Jibel 

 Goodee, about six miles off, they attained an 

 elevation of 6,000 feet, all evidently of volcanic 

 origin, save the little low heaps of recent sandstone 

 close to the shores of the bay which had been 

 upheaved, probably at the same period with the 

 more imposing rocks beyond them. 



One of these hills of stratified sandstone had been 

 impregnated with the vapour of a cupras sublima- 

 tion, until it had assumed a light green colour ; and 

 upon the strength of about five per cent, of copper, 

 some travellers had represented that it was a Jibel 

 Narse, or hill of copper. Many of the natives were 

 firmly impressed with an idea that it was for 

 the promise thus held out of an abundant supply 

 of this metal, that had induced the English to 

 attempt the purchase of Taj our ah and the neigh- 

 bouring country from the Sultaun Mahomed. I 

 may here observe, that a purchase had been effected 

 between this chief and the Indian Government of 

 the two islands; one at the entrance of the bay, 

 and another much smaller, lying in the little 

 channel leading into Goobatul Khhrab, and for 

 which, I believe, the Sultan received some five or 

 six thousand dollars. 



I was now joined by some of our Kafilah, which 



