garrison under the pasha of Egypt, serves to keep the neighbouring tribes of the desert in awe.

The modern name Akabah, signifies a descent or steep declivity, and is derived from the long and difficult descent from the western mountain. Ailah, or Akabah, has always been an important station upon the route of the great caravan of pilgrims which annually leaves Cairo for Mecca.

"Extensive mounds of rubbish...mark the site of the Elath of Scripture. They present nothing of interest, except as indicating that a very ancient city has here utterly perished; we did not learn that they have now

a name.

"We reached the castle (of Akabah,) and entered the huge portal from the north-west, through strong and massive doors heavily cased with iron. . . All around the (castle) wall, on the inside, is a row of chambers or magazines one story high, with a solid flat roof, forming a platform around the interior of the castle. On this platform are erected, in several parts, temporary huts or chambers, covered with the stalks of palm leaves, and occupied apparently by the garrison as dwellings. . .

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We spread our beds in a room having coarse gratings for windows, but no glass. Here our luggage was deposited; the walls of the room were of stone, and the floor of earth. Scorpions are said to be in plenty here; they are caught by cats, of which there are great numbers in the castle."-See ROBINSON's Researches.

"The little fortress of Akaba is seldom visited by travellers, and is worth a brief description. It stands at the extremity of the eastern branch of the Red Sea, at the foot of the sandstone mountains, near the shore, and almost buried in a grove of palm-trees, the only living things in that region of barren sands. It is the last stopping-place of the caravan of pilgrims on its way to Mecca, being yet thirty days' journey from the tomb of the prophet, and, of course, the first at which they touch on their return. This was the Ezion-geber of the Bible, where 3,000 years ago, King Solomon made a navy of

ships, which brought from Ophir gold and precious stones for the great temple at Jerusalem; and again, at a later day, a great city existed here, through which, at this distant point in the wilderness, the wealth of India was conveyed to Rome. But all these are gone, and there are no relics or monuments to tell of former greatness; like the ships which once floated in the harbour, all have passed away."-Incidents of Travel.

"It was charming after the fatigue of the morning march, to bathe in those sparkling waves, beneath which multitudes of coral groves were distinctly visible.

"Soon after commencing the afternoon march, our eyes were fixed upon what appeared like a narrow strip of land studded with palm-trees, on the eastern side of the Red Sea; but yet so distant as to be very indistinct, though the sun was brightly bearing down upon it. This was Akabah-the point of our destination. At length, after having passed (two valleys) scattered over with palm-trees, and others bearing a curious shelled fruit called Dom, of which the Arabs eat freely, we came to the head of the gulf; and immediately before us lay the palm groves of Akabah. Darkness overtook us before we reached them, and it was one of the most picturesque things I ever witnessed, to see great numbers of bivouac fires quickly lighted in various parts of the groves, around which were gathered large parties of the desert inhabitants, with their wild features and costume brilliantly illuminated. Akabah is quite a place of resort for all tribes and travellers passing on either of the routes -east, west, north, or south. The groves afford them a temporary home. Akabah was literally swarming with Arabs. In the midst of the palm groves is the little fortress of Akabah, in which is placed a Turkish governor -with a small body of irregular and ragged soldiery

...

(We had) our tents pitched under the walls, so as to occupy a nice shady spot on the very brink of the gulf of Akabah, commanding the loveliest mountain scenery imaginable. At present, besides the little fortress, Akabah contains only a few rude habitations of the most

wretched kind-a dreary contrast to its former greatness, when Solomon sent from thence his ships to Ophir, and there constructed his vessels... On the morning after our arrival, (June 1st,) the scene which presented itself at the tent door was very charming. The tall palmtrees above us formed a delightful shade, while full in front lay the gulf, with its deep blue waters sparkling in the early sunlight, and rippling to its margin within a few yards of us... (Here and there was to be seen) a fisherman astride on the trunk of a palm-tree for a boat, plying the only occupation of the resident Arabs; while scores of little sunburnt children were sporting in the shallow waters at the margin, dashing along and shouting with wild joy. There are several varieties of excellent fish to be found in the Red Sea, one of which, called by the Arabs Nazari, that is, the Christian, is peculiarly delicious. It grows to a large size, is of a fine crimson and vermilion colour, and its flesh something like that of the turbot. We had a fine specimen of it on our table.” -FISK's Pastor's Memorial.

ISLAND OF GRAIA.

"We again hailed the bright waters of the Red Sea, and pitched for the midday rest on a charming smooth sandy beach, just opposite the little island of Graia. This little island, on which there are yet the remains of bold fortifications, served from an early period as a defence of the fort of Elath, against tribes whom it was always difficult to subdue. (It was afterwards famous in the time of the Crusades). The island of Graia is a solitary rock in the Red Sea. A long embattled wall, interrupted at intervals by high towers, runs all round the higher part of the island.

"We had still to make an expedition to the isle of Graia. The camels were therefore loaded, and we set out with a store of bread, intending to breakfast in the neighbourhood of the gulf where we had found the

oysters. I observed upon its shore different species of shells such as I had never met with elsewhere. (We went) to the valley opposite the island, and found there undisturbed some palm-trees which we had already collected

for the construction of a raft. We added to them branches which we had gathered in Wady Taba, and bound the whole together with strong cords. Palm branches which we had cut off close to the tree served us for oars. After leaving the beach, the rocks which abound on the coast cease so suddenly, that notwithstanding the crystal clearness of the water, the bottom cannot be seen. No European has visited this island since the time of the Crusades neither had any of the natives set foot on it; unless, indeed, a fisherman, having nothing else to do, might have been tempted to such an enterprise by the hope of finding treasure there. Our voyage was not wholly free from danger, we all assisted however in guiding our frail skiff, and were careful to maintain its balance... We landed... (and made our way as well as we could amongst the ruins)."-LABORDE.

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CHAPTER XI.

EDOM, OR IDUMEA.

MOUNT HOR-Ascent of the Mountain-Desolate Prospect from the Summit Tomb of Aaron.

EDOM (Arabia Petræa)-Historical Notices-Approach to Petra-Wady Mousa, or Valley of Moses-The Syk-General View of Petra-The Khasne-El Deir-The Theatre-Glen in Wady Mousa-Luxuriant Vegetation-Remarkable Colouring of the Rocks-Fulfilments of Prophecy.

MAON.

BOZRAH OF EDOM.

THE ARABS.

THE RECHABITES.