IX.
Topographical Notices of the Valley of Mekka and its Mountains;
extracted from the History of Azraky, showing the names assigned to
every part. [It may be here remarked, that the Bedouins of the present
day continue to bestow on the smallest hill, projecting rock, or little
plain, a distinct and particular name; which circumstance renders the
history of Arabia often obscure, as the names have, in the course of
ages, sometimes changed.]
THE different mountains forming the southern chain of the valley of
Mekka are: - Djebel Fadeh, on the lower part of Djebel Kobeys, nearest to
the town - El Khandame, likewise part of Djebel Kobeys - Djebel el Abyadh,
called among the Pagan Arabs Mestebzera, belonging also to Djebel
Kobeys - Mozazem - Korn Meskale, lower ridge of Shab Aamer - Djebel Benhan,
ibid. - Djebel Yakyan, on the side of Shab Aamer - Djebel el Aaredj, near
the latter - Djebel el Motabekh, or Shab Aamer; so called because the Toba
kings of Yemen, when they invaded Mekka, established here their kitchen -
Shab Abou Dobb - Shab e' Szafa, or Djebel Raha, Shab Beni Kenane - Shab el
Khor - Shab Athmen.
On the northern side are: - El Hazoura; here was formerly the market of
Mekka - El Djethme - Zogag el Nar - Beit el Ezlam - Djebel Zerzera, in the
Djehelye called El Kaym - Djebel Omar, in the Djehelye called Da Aasyr -
Djebel el Adkhar, [El Adkhar is a shrub or plant, mixed by the Mekkans
with mortar in the construction of their houses. El Aadhad a thorny
tree, common in Arabia.] in the time of the Djehelye called El Mozhebat,
or El Aadhad - Djebel el Hazna-Shab Arny - Thenyet Keda Batn Zy Towa - Djebel
el Mokta - Fah, a valley beyond the Djidda gate - El Momdera - El Moghesh,
from whence was cut the white marble used in the mosque - El Herrowra -
Istar - Mokbaret el Noszara, the burial-ground of the Christians - Djebel el
Beroud - Thenyet el Beydha - El Hashas - Da el Medowar - Djebel Moslim - Wady Zy
Towa - Thenyet Om el Harth - Djebel Aby el Keyt - Fedj - Shab Ashras - Shab el
Motalleb - Zat Khalilyn - Djebel Kabsh - Djebel Rahha - El Bagheybagha - Djebel
Keyd - El Ark - Zat el Hantal - El Akla - Shab el Irnye - El Alka - Shab el Leben
- Melhet el Ghoraba - Melhet el Herouth - Kaber el Abd.
On the lower side of Mekka are: - Adjyad, or Djyad - Ras el Insan, between
the Djebel Kobeys and Adjyad - Shab el Khatem, near Adjyad - Djebel Khalife -
Djebel Orab - Djebel Omar - Ghadaf - El Mokba - El Lahdje - El Kadfade - Zat el
Laha - Zou Merah - Es Selfeyn - El Dokhadekh - Zou el Shedyd - Zat e' Selym - Adhat
el Nabt, so called from some Nabateans who resided there, and were sent
by Mawya Ibn Aly Sofyan to make mortar at Mekka - Om Kerdan.
On the north side of the Mala are - Djebel Deylamy - Djebel Sheyb - Djebel
Habeshy -
[p.469] Shab el Mokbera - Abou Dedjane - Djebel el Lyam - El Ghorab - Shab el
Akhnes, also called El Khowaredj, or El Gheyshoum - El Kaad.
On the road towards Mekka are: - El Mofdjer, or El Khoder - Shab Howa - Er
Rebab-Zou el Arake - El Ambara, in the Djehelye called Semyra - E' Seder.
On the road towards Djebel Thor, southward of Mekka, are: - Zat el
Lakhob - Zat Ardja - El Kaflye - Thor - and El Bana.
No. X.
ADDITIONAL NOTES.
Mokhowa, [Arabic] mentioned in pp. 112, 189, &c. must not be confounded
with Mokha, [Arabic] on the sea-coast. Mokhowa is a town ten days
distant from Mekka at the western foot of the great chain of mountains.
The word Hedjer, [Arabic] mentioned in p. 139, is not to be mistaken
for Hadjar, a stone: the space of ground is called Hedjer "because it is
separated from the Kaaba or Beitullah;" - [Arabic]
Page 299 - The Beni Amer - The word Amer [Arabic] in this place must not be
confounded with Amer [Arabic] another tribe of Harb. The damma [Arabic
vowel] in [Arabic] is never pronounced by the Arabians, who say Amr Ibn
el Las, ([Arabic]) and not Amrou Ibn el Las, placing the damma [Arabic
vowel] merely to distinguish the word from [Arabic] Omar.
End of Travels In Arabia, by John Lewis Burckhardt
