ABULAGH LAGH SLATE-MARL. 149 
The heavens now are frequently concealed by vapour. 
Yesterday we had clouds in abundance, often shroud- 
ing the sun — a wonder for the desert in this season ! 
We started rather late, about seven a.m., but 
made a long day, continuing till sunset, or twelve 
hours. Our course was north-north-west for three 
or four hours, on the plain towards Serdalous, and 
then entered the pass of Abulaghlagh ; v»^hich, though 
represented as plain and smooth as the hand by 
Hateetah, was sufficiently difficult and rocky for the 
boat-laden camels. The beginning of the pass was 
remarkable for a number of curiously-formed sand- 
stone rocks, several of them swinging or resting on 
a small base like a pivot, and others cleft asunder^ 
as straightly and clearly as if cut by a knife. Our 
course along the pass was west, but when well 
through it we turned round southwards tow^ards 
Ghfit. 
Immediately on clearing the pass we saw the 
celebrated Kasar Janoon, or Palace of the Demons; 
of and concerning which the people had been talk- 
ing all day : we had then the range of hills or 
mountains to our left, and some sand-hills on our 
right. Dr. Overweg at once discovered we were in 
a new region, or zone. The mountains on the left 
are composed of slate-marl, and not sandstone, as 
before stated by myself and Dr. Oudney. Over- 
weg considers them of a very peculiar character 
and is delighted with their castle-like and battle- 
mented shapes. But we shall have much to say of 
