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[-undulating-]{+12
Dr. Wallin’s Route in Northern Arabia.
undulating+} plains of soft sand, than narrow, well-defined
depressions, separated by distinct lines of bills. The mountain chain,
which I have described as shutting in as-Sabil (as-Sahil) on its
eastern side, is called, in its course from opposite to al-Wegh
(Wejb) to Wadi Lithm, a cross valley opening through the chain
at about 8 hours (24 miles) N. of ’Akaba (’Akabali), by the
general name of Gibal al-Shafaa (Jibalu-sa-Shefa) or Gibal
al-Taliama (Jibalu-t-tahamah). Its continuation N. of Wadi Lithm
until it joins the mountains of Syria, takes the name of Gibal
al-Sberati * (Gibalu-sh-shira). The highest peaks of the chain
about Muweilah are Gabal Shar (Jabal Shar), already mentioned,
and, N. of it, Umm Gudeile (Judeileh), and Gimm (Jimm), and
Sadr, and Harb. The soil of as-Sabil is generally poor, affording
only a scanty pasture, but it produces in abundance the acacias
called Samurf and Seyal.j: The former yields a gum inferior in
tpiality to that of al-Higaz (Hij;iz), and the latter plenty of wood
for burning into charcoal. The Bedooins dispose of these articles
at Muweilah, or at Suweis, and sometimes even in Kaliira
(Kahirah),
Besides the Beni ’Ukba (Beni ’Ukbah) Bedooins in the
immediate neighbourhood of Muweilah, this land is almost everywhere
inhabited by the l luweitat Arabs, one of the largest tribes of the
day, and spreading from above Petra, or Wadi Moosa (Wadi
Musa), along the coast to al-Wegh (Wejh), and partly into the
mountains on the E., and occupying also many districts in Egypt.
They are looked down upon by other tribes as mixed Bedooins
sprung from fellahs (husbandmen), not of pure uomadie origin,
and are held as on a par with the despised tribe of Heteim,
nicknamed Nutat-al-heit) (Nutatu-l-beit)—or “ the Wall-climbers.”
The principal l.luweitat clans dwelling in this land are, Dakikat
(Dakikat), ’Umrat (Unirat), ’Umran, and Taliikat (Tabfkat),
—the last regarded by some as the noblest elan of the tribe, by
others as a separate tribe—and who usually rove in and about Wadi
Tiriam (Wadi Tiryam), and up as far as ’Akaba (’Akabali) ;
’Uboyfit (’Ubcydt), Gerafin (Jerdffn), Suleimin (Suleimm),
Musa-lirne (Musalimeh), ’Ureinat (’Urcinat), Suglmyin (Sugbaym), and
Sharman, who frequent the districts S. of Muweilah and towards
Istabl ’Antar; and Meshabir (Mesbahfr), and Kor’an (Korkin),
who confine themselves to VN’adi Azlam, at the base of Gabal
* 1 have given the orthography and pronunciation of these names as exclusively
prevailing among the present Bedouins; but Arabian geographical writers
sometimes designate the whole of the chain by the name of al-Shar&d.—W. Also
Sarah.—A.
t Inga Unguis. Forskal. Flor. Arab. p. cxxiii.—R.
J Acacia Seyal. Cailland, Voyage a Meroc, vol. iv. p. .’110; Descrip, de l’Eg ,
tom. xviii. ]>. Ill, No. 905; Forskal FI. Arab., p. cxxiv. The wood of this tree
affords the best kind of charcoal for fuel.—A.
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