246 PLAIN OF AMARDU. 



along for the last three days, and like it terminating 

 at Jibel Obinoe, now about four miles distant. 



The singularly cleft summit of the low peak 

 of Obinoe, and its apparent relative position with 

 respect to the various fissured plains that appear 

 to terminate there as at a centre, induced me to 

 sketch its outline, as I would a head-land at sea, 

 placing also sundry small arrows to indicate the 

 directions of the several valleys. Its appearance was, 

 as if at this point, the previously level plateau had 

 been upraised from beneath, with a force but just 

 sufficient to lift the then fractured portions into 

 opposite inclined planes, and the severed summit 

 distinctly marked, the separated edges of the original 

 table-land. The greatest height that has been 

 attained by the upraised portion, is not 700 feet 

 above the level of the valley plains, and not 400 

 above the level of the flat-topt heights of Dulhn.ll 

 and Mahree. 



The plain of Amardu was intersected with deep 

 narrow gullies, or dry water-courses, four or five 

 feet deep, and as many wide. Plenty of coarse 

 grass seemed to promise excellent forage for the 

 camels, and I expected, when we dismounted again 

 under a large tree, that we were going to halt for the 

 day ; however, I was told that this was a favourite 

 rendezvous for deer and wild asses, and I soon 

 saw several herds of these animals, besides great 

 numbers of guinea fowl on every side of us. My 

 companions had evidently preceded the Kafilah 



