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[-open-]{+6
Dr. Wallin’s Route in Northern Arabia.
open+} plain, without even the shelter of a house or tent. The
Arabs here give the name of al-Sharm (in the plural al-Shuroom,
Shurum) to the whole tract of coast extending from lias
Muham-med to a point, not very well determined, to the N. of Wadi
Murari (Wadi Murari), nearly in the latitude of Gabal Moosa *
(Jebel Musa), in allusion, possibly, to the frequent indentations
of the shore line, as Sharrn signifies a fissure, and thence a bay or
creek in the sea shore. In a stricter sense, they confine the use
of the term to a small barren plain of saline crusty sand (Arab,
Sabkh, or Sabfikh, Sabakh), contiguous to the two harbourst
which chiefly mark the place. This plain is shut in to the N.
by a low range of sandstone hills, and hounded on the S. by the
rocky shore. At the foot of the hills there is a well of brackish
water. The harbours are formed by the sea shooting up through
narrow entrances into two land-locked basins. Of these harbours
the western affords good and safe accommodation for the larger
elass of Arab vessels, and the eastern for the smaller boats of the
Bedouins. On the E. side of the former there is a building
dedicated to a Muslim saint (Waly), and higher up on the plain,
a solitary small stone house, in whi ch, I was told, a man from al-Toor
(Tur) occasionally takes up his residence for the purpose of
trading with vessels touching here. Nearly in the centre of the plain,
between the two harbours, grows a solitary date-tree, under the
scanty shade of which small parties of Bedooins or of Arab
boatmen may lie sometimes seen preparing their frugal meal, or
indulging in a short repose during the noonday heat. On account
of its fresh water, and the security of its harbours, al-Sharm is
much frequented, and vessels usually endeavour to make it
then-place of night-anchorage, especially when bound northwards.
As soon as a vessel is descried in the offing, one of the
fishermen established here carries the news to his brethren of the
Mu-zoind (Muze’ineh) tribe, who are generally encamped in the Wadi
al ’Aat (Wadi-1-Aat), at a distance of about 5 h. from the coast.
On receipt of the intelligence, some of the tribe forthwith repair
on their camels to al-Sharm, in order, as they say, to “ go down
and see what God has sent them.” Besides a small contribution
exacted from every vessel anchoring here, and generally paid in
grain or rice, the Bedooins hope to find on board pilgrims or
other passengers, who, tired of a sea voyage which may have
lasted 40 or 50 days, can be induced to hire their camels and
* According to a memorandum by Captain Moresby (whose hydrographical
labours in the lied Sea are tut honour to this country), in the traveller’s book at
the convent of Mount Sinai, under date the 14th of February, 1830, the latitude of
the summit of Mount Siuai ((iabnl Moostt) is 28° 32’ SO" N.—A.
f For a further account of these harbours see “ Wcllsted’s Observations, Journal
of the lioyal Geographical Society,” vol. vi. (183(i), p. SI. A.
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