652 Notice of the Ajaib-al-Mukhluhat. [No. 152. 



their sides, sustain animal and vegetable life ; their water i3 raised again 

 by evaporation into clouds, which recondensing in rain and snow on the 

 mountain tops, is collected in holes and caverns, and affords a constant 

 supply ; such is the origin of springs. Springs collect into rivers, which 

 terminate in the ocean after fertilising the tracts through which they 

 flow, and conducing to the prosperity of cities. 



Volcanos, (Gebel-an-nar, UJtJ^^») 



There are some mountains which emit fire from their summit by 

 night, and smoke by day, (the reflection, probably, of the fire in the 

 crater on the smoke or vapour above, visible only at night,) such as 

 Gebel- Sikuliah, *J&aoJ.a^=> (the Sicilian mountain, Etna,) abounding 

 in sulphur. 



There are also mountains where a gentle breeze constantly blows, 

 as GebeLBamian, and others where a strong wind prevails, as Gebel- 

 Diaivend, and the mountains of Ghour. 



Remarkable Mountains. 



Here follows an account in detail of some of the celebrated moun- 

 tains of the world, in which are noticed Gebel Dibatvend, supposed to be 

 the highest mountain in the world, where Solomon imprisoned the 

 genii ; and Feridur, the tyrant Zohak. A mine of red and yellow 

 sulphur is said to occur on it. It is situated near Rai.* 



On mount Ararat, (Gebel- al-Jude, cJ^s!Ja^)> the author states 

 that a mosque built by Noah is still standing, and that a few of the planks 

 of the ark were to be seen in the time of the accession of the Abbasides 

 (about a. d. 749. )f 



* The ancient Bhagae in Persia. Modern travellers have estimated the height of 

 Dibawend to be only 10,000 feet above the sea's level ; not so high as Etna. 



f Berosus and Aldyenus both declare, there was such a report in their time handed 

 down from the Chaldaeans, and the relics of the ark, according to Epiphanius, were to 

 be seen here in his time. Sale quaintly adds — " if we may believe him." 



We are told that the emperor Heraclius went up from the town of Thamanin, and 

 saw the place of the ark. There was also formerly a famous monastery, called the 

 Monastery of the Ark upon some of these mountains, where the Nestorians used to cele- 

 brate a feast day on the spot where they supposed the ark rested ; but in the year of Christ 

 776, that monastery was destroyed by lightning, with the church and a numerous con- 

 gregation in it. (Sale's Koran, p. 167, Note.) The height above the sea, of Ararat, 



