586 Miscellaneous. [Nov. 



green, each with its blossom of varied colours, grow among the masses 

 of purple, green, red, and black porphyries, under shady archways 

 formed by the bending branches, and foliage of the Nebkh,* whose fruit 

 was as yet green. 



We took water of the Maltha, and, debouching out of the valley, 

 struck down into Wddi Billi, and ascended it as far as the Silloa, when 

 we halted. This part of Wadi Billi is full of Persica and Seyaleh, (Aca- 

 cia seyaleh), and numerous kinds of plants ; the Arabs say that the lower 

 part of the Wadi contains forests of Seyaleh. The inferior granites 

 here are more friable, and whiter ; they have rounded surfaces and 

 summits, f and are free from dykes of felspar. The upper granites on 

 the contrary are more rugged and perpendicular as the height increases* 



There are in Wadi Billi signal-posts, mile-stones, guard-houses, forts, 

 wells and stations. Near Ain Abu Marhhah are quarries, and traces of 

 buildings, Sakiyas, Jgardens, a citadel, magazines, brothels, sacred groves, 

 temples, priest's residence, baths, forum, villages, grottos, pottery, 

 green sarcophagus, troughs, blocks of green, purple porphyry, and of 

 black grey-veined breccia. Many Tarantulas (Abu Shebbath) .§ 



Wadi Guttar runs in the direction of the crags of Gebel Dukhdn, 

 but after passing the well in the middle of the Wddi it sweeps souther- 

 ly towards Gebel Altardsh, runs into Wddi Keneh, receiving along its 

 course Wddi's Altardsh, Gerzoo, Kohel, and others. 



The well station in the middle of Wddi Guttar below the Mazra, is 

 150 feet square ; it contains the remains of buildings, with strong walls, 

 and there are the remains of buildings, stables and out-houses outside. 

 A dyke with walls 6 feet thick runs across the Wddi, probably to 

 retain the water for cultivation. 



April 26th.— Left for Keneh, and reached Tellaat el Jim Gesher, on 

 the summit of which we found rain-water. Here is a Roman station 

 of unburnt brick, with an area of a fort with towers at the angles 

 (bears S. S. W. by S. from Gebel Dukhdn.) A large gateway in the 

 centre opens upon the valley. The enclosure, which is about 300 feet 

 long by 200 feet, contains a saki, and a cistern of cement 20 feet 

 by 15, now both filled with sand. Outside, towards the N. and close 



* Nebkh, Rhamnus nabeca. T. N. 

 f Probably felspatbic gneiss. T. N. 

 J A. watering place, a canal. T. N. 

 § Lit. Father of the Spiders. T. N. 





