rAkaba  ( Kal'at  el-'Akaba).  In  this  neighbourhood  lay  the  Elath  of
Scripture,  which  is  mentioned  on  the  occasion  of  the  voyages  to  Ophir,
and  which  was  garrisoned  during  the  Roman  period  by  the  tenth  legion.
It  was  afterwards  called  Aila,  and  was  still  inhabited  by  Jews  as  well  as
Christians  at  the  time  of  the  Crusades.  In  order  to  protect  themselves
against  the  attacks  of  the  Saracens,  the  inhabitants  pretended  to  possess
a  letter  of  protection  from  Mohammed.  (According  to  another  account  they
possess  a  robe  which  the  prophet  is  said  to  have  given  to  John ,  son  of
Rubah,  the  Jewish  prince,  as  a  pledge  that  the  Jews  might  carry  on
their  trade  without  hindrance.)  Down  to  the  15th  cent,  the  town  is
spoken  of  as  a  large  and  prosperous  commercial  place.  During  the  Byzan-
tine period  it  paid  tribute  to  the  emperors,  but  was  afterwards  under
the  protection  of  the  governors  and  Mohammedan  princes  of  Egypt,  and
was  especially  patronised  by  Ahmed  Ibn  Tulun.  During  the  crusades  it
was  taken  by  the  Franks,  but  in  A.  D.  1170  Saladin  caused  boats  to  be
brought  by  camels  from  the  Mediterranean  to  the  Red  Sea,  and  recaptured
Aila.  The  place,  moreover,  though  on  the  great  pilgrimage-route  to
Mecca ,  soon  decayed ,  till  at  last  nothing  of  it  remained  but  a  fort  on
the  mainland ,  and  one  on  the  island  of  Kureiyeh.  The  Turkish  fortress
of  'Akaba  is  rectangular  in  form ,  each  angle  of  its  massive  walls  being
defended  by  a  tower.  The  entrance,  with  its  iron-clad  gate  (bearing  an
old  Arabic  inscription),  is  also  protected  by  towers.
