( ) 
and (which is more difficult to be imaging) skill en<)ugh 
to fcratch in the Walls the firft Letters o[ their Names, 
and many more in Arabick Characters, which we 
could make nothing of, no more than of an Arabick 
Infcription which lay hard by, but appeared not an- 
cient. 
Oilokr the zd. We departed from Efree^ about an 
hour or an hour and an half after Midnight, and in fix 
hours and an half arrived at two Wells, the water i8 
fathom and two foot deep, known by the name of 
Imp wakha Giub : through the greateft part of this 
Stage we had a broad beaten Road, and where that was 
not difcernible, we guided our felves by a ridge of 
Chalky Hilk, under which the Wells lay the Water 
we found exceeding bad, and of fo noifbm a fcent, that 
we could not endure it fb much as at our Nofes which 
made our Guide laugh at us, who told us, the Arabs, 
and even the King himfelf ufed to drink freely of it ; 
which, I am fure, our Hoi (es would not do, though they 
were under a neceffity of drinking that or none : 
For our felves, we had brought from Efree^^xtt 
fufficient for one day at leaft. In our way hither we 
were (hewn the true Plant which they burn for Soap. 
Afhes, which has no Leaves, but a foft juicy Stalk 
ftiGOting into (everal Branches, and (bmething refembling 
our Sanphire, only it's more round than that ; the Afhes 
likewife we faw, which were made not far from the 
Wells, which in burning run into Cakes, not much un- 
like the Cinders of a Forge, only they are heavier, and 
not fb full of pores, nor fo hard as they are. In the 
Afternoon, we proceeded on our Voyage two hours and 
an half, to a place called Almyrrha, pafling rather be- 
tween than over the Hills, though we had fbmething of 
an afcent too ; this we did to fhorten our Stage the next 
Morning, for we were told before-hand we Ihould find 
no Water upon thofe Mountains ,• fo, for our Selves, we 
liv'd 
