1847.] 



Visit to Mount Sinai. 



n 



limestone (temp, of air in shade 84^). A few gaseous bubbles 

 escape from the bottom which have but a very slight odour of sul- 

 phuretted hydrogen, but the water has very little saline taste, and 

 small fish exist in it. The well in which we bathed, being a sort of 

 spa for the sick of Tor, is about 6 paces long by 4 broad and about 

 3 feet deep. The water rises to within 2| feet from the surface. 

 It is evidently slightly thermal. The temperature of two wells which 

 lie on the other side of the town, viz. Bir Eshesh and Bir Mussact 

 did not quite reach 80"^. I did not ascertain the temperature of the 

 third well, that of Selim, nearer the shore. 



The hot spring of Hummam Pharoun, issues from the limestone 

 and is said by Russegger to deposit salt mixed with sulphur. Its 

 temperature is stated at 55° 7' reaum. of air at same time 26° 3. 



The wells which rise in the granite regions are usually pure 

 and good. The water of Mount Sinai is deliciously cool and re- 

 freshing. 



Tribes of Arabs After Burckhardt's excellent description little need 

 dwelling in the , . , , i o- • -n i • 



Peninsula. be said about the JSmai Bedoums. 



The principal tribe is still that of Cuwaliha which comprehends 

 most of the others except the fellahs^ or slaves of the convent and 

 the Muzeini east of the convent. 



The Korashi were still under Shaikh Saleh Abu Nassir and muster 

 now, it is said, about 60 able bodied men. 



The Aulad Syed under Shaikh Musi, muster about 120 men. 



The Muzeini under Salih Abu Ama muster, it is said, 200. 



The Owarmi under Suliman 50, and the Alikah under Salim 

 Budyako 50. The Turabin under Sheikh Salim Abu Sitti muster 

 about 1,000. 



The Bedouins of Akaba,— the Alouins are under Abu Enjado 

 and the Haimut under Shaikh Mutteyr, the Tiaha of Et Tih, are 

 under Ahmed Bin Ahmir and muster about 200. 



The Bedouin females met with, did not strike me as much hand- 

 somer than their Egyptian and Syrian sisters. Their common dress 

 is a black or deep blue cotton shift, close in front, leaving an aper- 

 ture barely sufficient for the head to come through. Over the head 

 they throw a dark coloured turha like a scarf and wear a white or 

 light coloured veil instead of the black one seen in Egypt — but most 

 of them merely wear the shift and loose drawers. 



The best classes among the men usually wear a dirty white (hohf 



