THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 559
This phsenomenon of the fimoom, unexpedled by uSj though forefeen by Idris, caufed us all to relapfe into our former defpondency. It Hill continued to blow, fo as to ex- hauft us entirely, though the blaft was fo weak as fcarcely would have raifed a leaf from the ground. At twenty mi- nutes before five the fimoom ceafed, and a comfortable and cooling breeze came by Harts from the north, blowing five or fix minutes at a time, and then falling calm. We were now come to the Acaba, the afcent before we arrive d at Chiggre, where we intended to have fiopt that night , but we all moved on with tacit confcnt, nor did one perfon pretend to fay how far he guefled we were to go.
At thirteen minutes paft eight we alighted in a fandy plain abfolutely without herbage, covered with loofe ftonesi a quarter of a mile due north of the well, which is in the narrow gorge, forming the fouthern outlet of this fmall plain. Though we had travelled thirteen hours and a quar- ther this day, it was but at a flow pace, our camels being famiflied, as well as tired, and lamed likewife by the fliarp Hones with which the ground in all places was covered. The country, for three days paft, had been deftitute of herbage of any kind, entirely defert, and abandoned to moving fands. We faw this day, after pafling Ras el Seah, large blocks and ftrata of pure white marble, equal to any in colour that ever came from Paros,
Chiggre is a fmall narrow valley, ciofely covered up and furrounded with barren rocks. The wells are ten in num* ber, and the narrow gorge which opens to them is not ten yards broad. The fprings, however, are very abundant; Wherever a pit is dug five or fix feet deep, it is immediate- ly
