Explorations in Bible lands during the 19th century - H. V. Hilprecht

718 EXPLORATIONS IN BIBLE LANDS
The expedition went from Damascus via 'Orman and
Kaf to the Wadi Sirhan or the North Arabian J of, the Hidd-
Dekel ("wadi of palms") of the Bible story of Eden, 1
from there through the Nefud desert to Hayil (Hail), the
residence of the Wahhabite princes of Shammar, whence
several excursions were made. From Havil the two ex-
Oasis of "Aqda near
plorers proceeded to Taima, Tabuk, and El-'Ola (El-Oela),
where Euting made squeezes 2 of the important Minean
(South Arabian) and Lihyanian (Tamudian) inscriptions,
which in part had
been previously copied by Doughtv and
Huber. On March 19 Euting and Huber separated.
On March 25 Euting completed his epigraphical re-
1
The Ashur ( English Version : Assyria ) mentioned there is the Arabian
Ashur ; not until later was the name Hiddekel applied to the river Diklat or
Tigris,
2
on the Assyrian border.
Published by D. H. M tiller, Epigraphische Denkmaler aus Arabien,
Vienna, 1889 ; later and fuller treatment of the Minean inscriptions by J.
H.
Mordtmann, Beitrage zur minaischen Epigraphik, Weimar, 1896.