"دليل الجزيرة العربية المجلد II" [‎١‎٣‎٧‎٢] (٦٨٨/٤٢٧)

1372
NAQAB-AL-HAJAR
eminence, and flanked by square towers, erected at equal distances. There are but two
entrances situated north and south from each other, at the terminaion of the valley before
mentioned. A hollow square tower, each side measuring fourteen feet, stands on both
sides of these. Their bases extend to the plain below, and are carried out considerably
beyond the rest of the building. Between the towers, at an elevation of twenty feet
from the plain, there is an oblong platform which projects about eighteen feet without
and as much within, the walls. Presumably there was once a flight of steps at each ex
tremity of the building, although now all traces of them have disappeared. This level
apace is roofed with flat stones of massive dimensions, resting on traverse walls. It is
somewhat singular that there are no traces of any gates. The southern entrance has
fallen much to decay but the northern remains in almost a perfect state. The sketch on
the map will illustrate its appearance and dimensions better than any verbal description
Within the entrance, at an elevation of ten feet from the platform, we found the in-
scnptions. They are executed with extreme care, in two horizontal lines on the smooth
face of the stones of the building, the letters being eight inches long. Attempts have
been made, though without success, to obliterate them. From the conspicuous situation
which they occupy, there can be but little doubt, but that when deciphered, they will be
found to contain the name of the founder of the building, as well as the date,' and purport
of its erection. The whole of the wall, the towers, and some of the edifices within, are
built of the same material, viz., a compact greyish-coloured marble, streaked with thin
dark veins and speckles, and hewn to the required shape with the utmost nicety. The
dimensions of the slabs at the base of the walls and towers were from five to six and
seven feet in length, from two feet ten inches to three feet in height, and from three
to four in breadth. These decrease in size with the same regularity to the summit, where
their breadth is not more than half that of these below, where the thickness of the wall
cannot be less than ten feet and about four at the summit. Notwithstanding the irre-
gulanty of its foundation, the stones are invariably placed in the same horizontal lines
carefully cemented with mortar, which has acquired a harness almost equal to that of the
stone. Such parts of the wall as remain standing, are admirably knitted together; others
\v hich, by the crumbling away of their bases, incline towards their fall, still adhere in their
tottermg state without fracture ; and those patches which have faUen are scattered
around in huge undissevered masses. There are no openings in these walls, no turrets
at the upper part; the whole wears the same stable, uniform, and solid appearance. In
^n r / 0 fT n ^ to ^f nt » which leaves on the face of the surrounding
hill raCeS f 0 r ? PU ! ity course ' fr om washing away the base of the
t fr'Z T but ir sses of a circular form have been hewn from that part, and cased with a
d r stono. The casing has partially disappeared, but the buttresses still remain.
of which face the^aT^
r^rr.rt- /n 8horter '
so beruSulhT Dut eao J\ slab bein g cut of the same size, and the whole
Snkniie between thf™ + W0Uld ^ be pOSsibIe to insert the blade of a small
sv ot r w f 8mai1 ^
d" d ' ng, there " n0 dOUb, S ^ the"
T? 01 f,11<!d "P with the ot the fallen roof
tl " S bmldln S there ^-eral other edifiees, with
there is a cireular well ten feet ta,dSS^and sStyin d"pth ay Th'T the {"T >h
ZtTg the 1 wate^ d a wall o? a^TnV' ^ the SU,, ' S m ^™e p^ ei of
rouruHt. oylmdnoal form, fifteen feet in height, has been carried
On the southern mound the whnlp nr^oAn+c j- ,. . , ,
in the southern entrance, on the same level wit h the ^ 6 maSS 0f ruinS ' With '
protected on the inner side by a strong P l a ™' a ga^ry fourfeetin breadth
extends for a distance of about fifty vfrds ^t^ ^ ^ 0 . Uter by the princi P aI Wal1 '
served. In no portion of the ruins cL one snor rwi f 111 ^ P ur Pose this could have
columns, nor in finding on their surface anv acing rCmains of arches or
or metals, which are always to be seen in old tboSe f . rag « ient8 of pottery, coloured glass,
seen m old Egyptian towns. Except the attempts to