vipers, chiefly the Echis: and I was startled by hearing the gay
warble of the Bulbul--a nightingale in Arabia!

The next day was devoted to inspecting this far-famed site, with
the following results. We have already seen a Bada' and
a Badi'a , whilst there is a Badi'ah [EN#65]
further north. We are now at a Bada which fulfils all
the conditions required by the centre and head-quarters of
"Thamuditis." The site of the Bujat Bada, "the Wide Plain of
Bada," as it is distinguished by the Arabs, represents,
topographically speaking, a bulge in the Wady Nejd, before it
becomes the Wady Abu Daumah, between the Shafah Mountains to the
east and the Tihamah range seawards. The latitude is 26 45' 30"
= 0 31' 30" north of El-Wijh [Footnote: Ahmed Kaptan's
observation of Polaris. The (Bades) of Ptolemy is
in north lat. 25 30'.]. From its centre, a little south of our
camping-place, the Jebel Ziglab of Shaghab, distant, according to
Yakut, one march, bears 32 , and the Aslah (Athlah) cone 30
(both mag.): it lies therefore south of Shuwak, with a little
westing. The altitude is upwards of twelve hundred feet above
sea-level (aner. 28.72). The size of the oval is about nine
statute miles from north to south, where the main watercourse
breaks; and twelve miles from east to west, giving an area of
some 108 square miles. The general aspect of the basin suggests
that of El-Haura; the growth is richer than the northern, but not
equal to that of the southern country. The ruins belong to the
Maghair Shu'ayb category, and the guides compare the Hawawit with
those of Madain Salih.

Such is the great station on the Nabathaan overland highway