'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎560] (651/905)

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ARABIA IMPERFECTLY KNOWN. [CHAP. XXII.
with it, but there has been so little intercourse between that
country and Europe for several centuries, that our knowledge
of the interior is now far short of that which was enjoyed by
the Greeks and Romans.
It is true that Arabia has lately been traversed by Euro
peans, in different directions, but it will be seen by the routes
of Niehbuhr, Burckhardt, Seetzen, and others, that only a
comparatively small part has been visited; the rest would be
quite a blank, were it not for the brief accounts given by
Arabian authors, and such notices as have been handed down
by Ptolemy and other ancient geographers. The vast tract
lying between Syria and the Indian Ocean, offers a wide field
for the extension of geographical knowledge, which may be
obtained without any extraordinary difficulty or danger; for,
with the exception of the mysterious fate of the intrepid
Seetzen, there has not been a fatal journey into Arabia
during the last 40 years ^ nor, perhaps, during a much longer
period.
In the preceding pages the mountain system of Syria has
been carried from the Taurus to the termination of Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -el-
Ghor. The latter encloses the southern extremity of the
Dead Sea; and, as the name signifies, it is a tract lying
between two ranges of mountains : this tract, here, as well as
to the northward, is chiefly desert. The eastern side of
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. el Ghor is intersected, and partly fertilized by several
streams flowing along the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Kurahy, and other valleys,
amidst shrubs and verdure; but, on the opposite side, it is
1 There is little doubt that a prudent man, especially one of the medical
profession, might make his way along the interesting line from Damascus to
Shammarj and having explored Nedjd, in a southerly direction, in the first
instance, he might turn his steps towards the countries of the Sabeans, Himya-
rites, &c.: this being accomplished, he could proceed at leisure from thence,
by the route followed by Mr. Borowski along the borders of Hadramaiit and
Mahrah, to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. at Maskat. Such an undertaking was recently
commenced by Lieutenant Thomas Edmunds, 3rd Native Infantry, Assistant
Resident at Kerrac, who, after taking a part in the late campaign in Syria,
proceeded to Jiddah, where his exploratory journey was cut short by an illness
which obliged him to proceed to Bombay; at that place the illness proved
fatal, and deprived the service, as well as the community at large, of a valu
able member.