244 WIDE AKD INHOSPITABLE DESEETS. yj" 
. Til” I I 
wide empire into two nenrly equal portions. 
extent is impregnated with nitre and other sal ll” 
taint the neighbouring lakes and rivere, and 
account, been denominated the Gkeat S.s.ine 
ARABIAN DESERTS. ^ ,/ 
The sandy deserts of Arabia form one of 
striking objects of that country. • From the hills 
which appear to be a continuation of those on 
side of the Persian gulf, as far as Mecca, the 
of Negad is one prodigious desert, interruptey ^ J-V';.:' 
the frontiers of Hejaz and Yemen, or Ara'^^ 
by Kirgi, containing the district of Sursa, 
oases, or fertile spots. The north-west part 
presents almost a continued desert, and is cons : 
a prolongation of the one above-mentioned. 
The Beled el Haram, or FIoly Land of ’.yfi' ' 
which Mecca is the capital, is comprehended 
Red Sea, and an irregular lino which, coinn ^ 
Arabog, about sixty miles to the north of Djc“ htii’S./ 
a bend from the north-ea.st to the south-east, in IF jji’f'j 
Yeleralem, two days’ journey to the north-ea.st oi ■ 
It thence continues to Kartia, nearly seventy nines 'opj, 
of the same place, and twenty-four miles to the ^,1)^ 
' which is without tlie limit ol the Holy Land ; n ^ 
turning to the south-west, it passes by DrataerK^^^ 
mitiates at Mehherma upon the coast, at the 
Ahmrsa Ibrahim, about ninety miles to the ao'- y 
Djedda. j,bO'-V 
It therefore appears that tlie Holy Land yji-thLi^ 
hundred and seventy mile.s in length, from utii, / 
to the south-east, and eighty-four miles in bre 
the north-east to the south-west — which space ^ ,iiii’j 
bended in that part of Ar.tbia, known by ;ii’y' 
El Hedjeva, or the -Land or PiLOKiMA^^y Lje 
chides the cities of Medina and Taif. It has 
and the only water to be i'onnd, i.s that ol ^ 
rable springs, which are not numerous, F ,/ 
water obtained from the deep wells. Thus ij riy 
It is at Mecca and Medina alone ‘ , '» .i 
DHSEKT. 
Ol' 
nave been wrougiit to preserve the rain water ; ,,(,ii 
account, a garden is very rarely to he seen uro 
