# Mount Seir, Sinai and Western Palestine

This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse
MOUNT SEIR,
SINAI AND WESTERN PALESTINE.
Grand Gorge of the Wady el ’Ain. Sand-stone Tor resting on granitic base in the centre of the picture.
MOUNT SEIR,
SINAI AND WESTERN PALESTINE.
BEING A NARRATIVE OF A SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION.
BY
EDWARD HULL, MA., LL.D., F.R.S.,
Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland,
Professor of Geology, Royal College of Science, Dublin.
WITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
Published for the Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund by
RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON,
New Burlington Street.
1885.
[All rights reserved.]
LONDON:
HARRISON AND SONS, PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HER MAJESTY,
ST. MARTIN'S LANE.
Inscription.
TO THE
RT. HON. THE EARL OF DUFFERIN, K.P., D.C.L, F.R.S.,
THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR IN GRATEFUL
RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICES WHICH HIS LORDSHIP
RENDERED TO THE EXPEDITION IN 1884, AND OF
THE INTEREST WHICH HE HAS EVINCED IN
THE PROGRESS AND SUCCESS OF THE
INVESTIGATIONS CARRIED OUT
BY THE COMMITTEE
OF THE
"PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND."
PREFACE.
The outcome of an Expedition is a book; and in the preparation of this narrative, which has been a labour of love, I have many friends to thank for their assistance. But I must here confine my special acknowledgment to two composite bodies, namely, the members of the Expedition, and the Committee and Secretary of the “Palestine Exploration Fund,” who have endeavoured to meet my wishes in every way.
For the defects which may be found in the book itself, I can only plead the pressure on my time from many engagements.
THE AUTHOR.
Dublin, 10th October, 1884.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XIII.
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 ​Jerusalem.—Visit to ancient ruins.—Strange way of viewing a landscape.—Our Alowîn guides.—Character of the Arabs.—Ruins of Lebrusch.—Gorgeous effects of colour.—New disappointments and fresh surprises.—Arrival of party of Arabs from Cairo with letter from the Consul-General.—Christmas Day in the Wilderness.—Depression of the mental barometer.—Mr. Laurence entertains the Arabs with electrical experiments.—Christmas dinner.—Visit of Sheikh Arari of Petra.—Arrival of horses and mules from Jerusalem.—Peremptory orders to proceed to Gaza for quarantine.—Preparations for an early start for the opposite side of The Ghôr.—We part with Sheikh Ali pages 108-128.
CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CHAPTER XIX.
CHAPTER XX.
CHAPTER XXI.
CHAPTER XXII.
CHAPTER XXIII.
APPENDIX.
* Major Kitchener's Reportpages 199–222.
* Mr. George Armstrong's account of the Wâdy Arabahpage 222.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS