CHAP. I. 
JOURNEY IN THE MOUNTAINS. 
25 
We stopped at a nest, I cannot call it village, where all the habitations 
are under-ground. The Sheikh, on hearing we were under the 
protection of the Eashaw, came to welcome us, and gave us the 
only hut the place afforded, in which we placed our people and 
camel loads. As for ourselves, we preferred clearing part of the 
farm yard, and pitching our tent in it, surrounded by our horses 
and camels. This place is called Beni abbas (^^l^^j. As the 
natives live, as I have observed, under-ground, a person unac- 
quainted with the circumstance might cross the mountain without 
once suspecting that it was inhabited. All the dwelling-places 
being formed in the same manner, a description of the Sheikh's 
may suffice for the rest. The upper soil is sandy earth, of about 
four feet in depth ; under this sand, and in some places limestone, 
a large hole is dug, to the depth of twenty-five or thirty feet, and 
its breadth in every direction is about the same, being as nearly as 
can be made, a perfect square. The rock is then smoothed so as 
to form perpendicular sides to this space, in which doors are cut 
through, and arched chambers excavated, so as to receive their light 
from the doors. These rooms are sometimes three or four of a 
side, in others a whole side composes one ; the arrangements 
depending on the number of the inhabitants. In the open court is 
generally a well, water being found at about ten or twelve feet 
below the base of the square. The entrance to the house is at 
about thirty-six yards from the pit, and opens above ground. It is 
arched overhead ; is generally cut in a winding direction, and is 
perfectly dark. Some of these passages are sufficiently large to 
admit a loaded camel. The entrance has a strong wall built over 
it, something resembling an ice-house. This is covered over- 
head, and has a very strong heavy door, which is shut at night, 
or in cases of danger. At about ten yards from the bottom is 
another door, equally strong, so that it is almost impossible to enter 
E 
