'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.' [‎628] (725/905)

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JEB-EL-SHAMMAR.
[CHAP. XXIV.
Five days south-eastward of Jof begins Jeb-el-Sliammar,
another district, extending one degree in latitude, and nearly
two degrees in longitude. It is traversed with some difficulty,
owing to its forests and mountains; the latter of which have
been compared to the Lebanon. 1 The principal peaks are
Mount Solma, Mount Aja, or Edja, and Mount Aujan. The
first derives its name from a wise woman, and the second from
a man so called. They contain the tribe of Beni Thai, and
are situated in the centre of the territory, between the towns
of Hail and Faid. 2 The last is said to derive its name from
Faid, a son of Ham ; it is walled, and has a castle with an
iron gate, also a granary to contain wheat and other produc
tions. Towards the northern side of the district is the
mountain called Ranel Dhah, with the castle of Sabzah at
its foot. In the neighbourhood is the fortress of Dumat-el-
Jaudal, which is said to have belonged to the Himyarites;
and one day from thence is the castle called Kara Shokaik :
elsewhere there are other castles, which have been built of
white stone. 3
The principal places, in addition to those already mentioned,
are Sir, near Mount Aja, with its numerous troglodyte habi
tations, Kofar Mastadjeade, Milkian-el-Rum, inhabited by
Greeks, and Kahfa. One of these, possibly the first, repre
sents the Zamotaso of Ptolemy. 4 The population must be
considerable, since the Beni Shammar, the principal tribe,
can muster 7000 matchlocks. 5
One day farther to the south-east commences the district
of El Sedeir, a quadrangular tract, extending from Jeb-el-
Tueyk about If 0 of latitude and 1^° of longitude. It con
tains many small places, such as El Zelfy, Harmeh, El Tueym,
and El Medjmah, to the north; Djeladjel in the centre; and
southward. El Djenubyeh, El Ghat, El Roudah, Tumeyr,
El 'Oudeh, El Houlah, El Dakhleh, and Aude Sedeir, the
chief place, which is situated in the midst of gardens and
1 By Yusiif El Miliki.
8 Arabic Geo. MS., translated by Dr. Aloys Sprenger.
3 Ibid. ' 4 Lib. VI., cap. 7.
5 Burckhardt's Travels in Arabia, vol. II., p. 405.