Petra and Mount Hor.—Level of the watershed or saddle of the Arabah Valley.—Question of practicability of a ship-canal.—Appearance and structure of Mount Hor (Jebel Haroun).—The mosque of Aaron's tomb.—Kitchener and Armstrong triangulate from the summit.—Proposal to steal a march.—Sheikh Ali protests.—Camp at entrance to Wâdy Haroun.—Oleander trees.—We dispatch a messenger to Sheikh Arari.—Sheikh Abdullah arrives from Petra.—Exorbitant demands.—Major Kitchener produces his firmân.—Dispute as to terms, and rupture of negociations.—We strike out tents.—Ultimately the Petra Sheikhs give in.—Statement of original demands, and ultimate terms.—Early start for Mount Hor and Petra.—Remarkable appearance of the tableland of the Tîh.—Flock of vultures.—Abdullah's conversation with Ibraham.—Difficult pass; grand scenery.—Sandstone cliffs and terraces.—Petra and its architectural remains.—Marvellous effects of colouring.—Return of our party to the camp.—Results of the day's work.—Altitude of Mount Hor.—Exciting scene with the Petra Arabspages 85–96.
The Arabah Valley west of Mount Hor.—Jebels Jerafeh and Magrah.—Effects of floods.—First glimpse of the hills of Judaea.—Sheikh Ali proposes to conduct us down to the shore of the Salt Sea.—Agreeable surprise, and ultimate arrangements.—Ain Abu Werideh.—Ancient Salt Sea terraces.—Semifossil shells.—Samrat Fiddân.—Ancient gravel beach.—Terraces of the Wâdy el Jeib.—Camp at Wâdy Suweirah.—We dispatch a messenger to Jerusalem.—Suspicious conduct of Sheikh Ali.—Scenery of the Wâdy Suweirah.—Petra Arabs on our track; we think it better to move on.—Thunderstorm.—Disintegration of the rocks of the Arabah Valley.—Formation of the physical features.—Ancient ruins of the Wâdy T'lah.—Remarkable terraces of the ancient sea.—Camp at the edge of The Ghôrpages 97–107.
The Ghôr and Salt Sea.—Descent into The Ghôr.—Ancient terrace.—Problem requiring solution.—Appearance of Jebel Usdum.—Arab camps.—Group of Arab children.—Our progress barred by Arab cavalry.—Interview between Kitchener and Arari.—They come to terms.—Arrival at the village of Es Safieh.—Vegetation of The Ghôr.—Cultivation of the ground by the Ghawarneh.—Our camp in The Ghôr.—Visit to the shore of the Salt Sea.—Nocturnal experiences.—Chorus of jackals.—Jebel es Somrah and Wâdy el Hessi.—Habits of the Ghawarneh.—Herds of camels.—Invitation from the Sheikh of Kerak politely declined.—Visit of the Petra Arabs.—Excursion into the mountains.—Barometric pressure in The Ghôr.—Unwelcome tidings of quarantine.—Hopes deferred.—News from Jerusalem and disappointment.—Prospect of Christmas by the Salt Sea.—Hassani again dispatched to
