The  Wadi  esh-Shekh ,  which  frequently  expands  into  pictur-
esque basins,  soon  diverges  to  the  N.E.  (see  p.  520),  and  we  reach
( !/4  hr. )  the  entrance  to  the  Wadi  Selaf,  a  monotonous  and  wind-
ing valley  through  which  our  route  runs  for  nearly  6  hours.  On  the
right  opens  the  Wadi  er-Rimm  (p.  497)  ascending  to  Mt.  Serbal,
and  on  the  same  side  the  Wadi  Umm  Tdkha,  containing  several
curious  stone-huts  in  the  form  of  beehives,  called  'nawamis',  to
which  the  absurd  tradition  attaches,  that  the  Israelites  sought  re-
fuge in  them  from  tormenting  flies.  In  less  than  2  hrs.  we  reach
the  Wadi  'Ejjdwi,  through  which  the  road  from  Tiir  (p.  518)  on
the  Red  Sea  joins  our  route  from  the  S.W.  Mt.  Serbal  now  at  length
becomes  visible  in  all  its  majesty,  and  remains  in  sight  behind  us
for  Y2  hour.  We  next  pass  the  Wadi  Abu  Tdtib  to  the  left,  at  the
entrance  of  which  the  prophet  Mohammed,  when  he  was  marching
against  Syria  (Sham)  with  his  uncle  Talib  ,  is  said  to  have  rested.
