598
WADY SOLAF.
passed several encampments without stopping, we turned N. by W.
where a lateral valley branches off towards the sea shore, and
communicates with the valley of Hebran, which divides the upper
Sinai from the Serbal chain. Wady Hebran contains considerable
date-plantations and gardens, and this valley and Wady Feiran
are the most abundant in water of all the Wadys of the lower
country. A route from the convent to Tor passes through Wady
Hebran, which is longer than the usual one, but easier for beasts of
burthen.
At six hours and three quarters we halted in Wady Solaf, as I
found myself somewhat feverish, and in want of repose. We
saw great numbers of red-legged partridges this day; they run
with astonishing celerity along the rocky sides of the mountains, -
and as the Bedouins do not like to expend a cartridge
upon so small a bird, they are very bold. When we lighted
our fire in the evening, I was startled by the cries of Hamd
« to take care of the venemous animal!” I then saw him kill a
reptile like a spider, to which the Bedouins give the name of
Abou Hanakein („), or the two-mouthed; hanak meaning, -
in their dialect, mouth. It was about four inches and a half
in length, of which the body was three inches; it has five long
legs on both sides, covered, like the body, with setæ of a light
yellow colour; the head is long and pointed, with large black
eyes ; the mouth is armed with two pairs of fangs one above the
other, recurved, and extremely sharp. Hamd told me that it
never makes its appearance but at night, and is principally attracted ¬
by fire ; indeed I saw three others during this journey, and
always near the evening fire. The Bedouins entertain the greatest ¬
dread of them; they say that their bite, if not always mortal,
produces a great swelling, almost instant vomiting, and the most
excruciating pains. I believe this to be the Galeode phalangiste,
