“We found them hospitable and obliging, and never entered one of their tents without meeting with a cordial reception: their simple fare of milk, léban, and dates, was always freely offered, and our horses were regaled with a feed of corn, which they usually found very acceptable. We cannot take our leave of Zaffran without noticing the very singular and formidable appearance of the beach on this part of the coast; and had we not ourselves beheld the extraordinary scene which it presented, we should scarcely have believed it possible that the force of the sea could, under any circumstances. hive raised the large blocks of stone which are here piled up. The occasional regularity in which these are heaped one above another, induced us, on the first view of them, to imagine that they had been intentionally placed there, for the purpose of a break-water; but the long extent of the ranges soon proved the impossibility, and the idea was dismissed as heartily as it had been entertained. Heaps of sand and sea-weed are thrown up with these blocks of stone, and the roar and confusion which a moderate gale of wind here occasions, are such as in other places will seldom be found to accompany the most violent weather.
“On the 17th of December, we reached Medmet Sultàn, which has been an important military position, as the remains of several strongly, built fortresses still remaining there will attest. At Nehīm there is a sandy bay, into which ships might send their boats, with almost all winds, for water, at three wells which are situated near the beach. At Hámmah also, a bay still further eastward, water may be procured almost at all times, the sea being rendered smooth by a shoal which stretches itself across the entrance. The two bays may be known by a promontory situated nearly midway between them.
“While we were pitching the tents at Hámmah, some of our horses got loose, and Shekh Mahommed el Dúbbah, who had just come up with us on his trusty mare, was violently assailed by them on all sides. He called out most lustily for help, and in the mean time exhibited uncommonly good horsemanship; wheeling about rapidly in all directions, and making his mare kick out in the intervals, to the no small amusement of our whole party, who were at first too much overcome by laughter to give him any effectual assistance. As the attack, however, began to grow serious, from the number and impetuosity of our valiant Shekh’s assailants, we soon recovered ourselves sufficiently to make a diversion in his favour, and eventually to secure all the horses, though not before the Dúbbah was quite out of breath, and had broken his gun in self defence. * * * * The next morning, he took the doctor aside, and with a significant half-smile upon his countenance, begged he would furnish him with the exhilarating medicine which he had promised him on a former occasion; confessing that as he was going home, from which he had been some time absent, he was particularly desirous of assuming an animated and youthful appearance in the presence of his young and handsome wife,
