EGYPT, AND SYRIA. i8j 
From the fummit of this rock the view loft itfelf in an exten- 
five valley, confifting chiefly of rocks and fand, but diverfified 
by fmall buflies of the date tree, and other marks of vegetation, 
near the fpring where we defigned to repofe. Nothing could 
exceed the fterility of the mountain we had pafled. Having 
reached the plain, it became necefTary to unload the camels, and 
allow them fome reft. We v/ere employed four hours and a 
half, the following morning, in paffing from the foot of the 
mountain to Aine Dize, the firft place where water is found, 
and the Northern extremity of the great Oafis. An hot wind 
blowing during the meridian hours, the thermometer here 
ftood during that time under the fhade of the tent at ii6 
degrees. 
In marching from Aine Dize to Charje, eight hours were 
employed. Excepting a fmall fpace near the fpring, all is wafte. 
The Chabir, or leader, chofe to notify his approach to the town 
by beating drums, (two of which he had borne before him as 
marks of his office, and as occafion might require, to colled the 
travellers when difperfed,) and by other tokens of joy, as firing 
fmall arms, fhouting, &c. One of my camels, in defcending 
the mountain, had fallen and injured his right ftioulder, which, 
as a cure could not fuddenly have place, obliged me to change 
him for another. 
There is a Gindi or officer at Charje, and another at Beiris, 
both belonging to Ibrahim-bey-el-kebir, to whom thofe villages 
appertain ; and to them is entrufted the management of what 
relates to the caravan during the time of its ftay there. We left 
B B Charje 
