Page 154 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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ROUTE FROM OJA III TO IIOOFOOF.

Distance;
Remarks.
Miles. Furls.
7 4 From the Water-pits to the Munzil; time
two and a half hours.—The
ground gradually becomes more level, and at the end of the march
a range of low hills, running north and south, are seen ; Lahsa said to
be close to them; No water at the Munzil, or encamping ground for
the night;
Second Day's 1\ tar eft.
12 0 From the Munzil to Jishah j time four hours.—Shortly after leaving
our
encampment, descended into an extensive desert plain. Ground °hard
and firm ; small hillocks on the right at some distance. After proceeding
about six miles, the soil becomes more sandy, but is quite firm, and the
road winds between hillocks of sand, which command it. Hence for
about three miles further several Small ascents occur, over very deep sand.
The plain of Lahsa, with its date trees, now first seen. Three miles
further, pass the village of Jishah, on the right, close to the road. It is
encompassed by a wall of about 250 yards square, seven or eight feet
high, with small towers at intervals. Between Ojair and Jishah
there are no habitations, and of course supplies of any kind are not
procurable.
4 4 From Jishah to Foozool ; time an hour and a half.—About half a mile
beyond Jishah, pass the village of Jufoor on the left. Same descrip­
tion, but larger than Jishah. Now enter the date groves, which con­
tinue for one or two miles, whence you again debotich into open coun­
try, leaving Foozool on your left. The roads through the date groves
arc narrow, but very good; they have watercourses on cither side.
These courses are in many places connected by cuts across the road, over
which small bridges of date sticks are thrown, but sometimes so narrow
that artillery could not pass over them. Indeed most formidable im­
pediments might be raised to the passage of artillery, by cutting do wn
the date trees, and laying them across the road, and by trenching the
road, and connecting the watercourses. I was informed that by mak-*
ing a detour these groves might be avoided, but Iliad not an opportunity
of surveying the country. Foozool is of the same description as Jishah
and Jufoor, but larger than either. The houses are built of stone and
clay, and have fat mud roofs.
Foozool to Hoofoof; time one hour.—A short way beyond Foozool are
3 0
small watch-towers, close to the road, at intervals of foui or
hundred yards from each other. They extend to the walls of IIoofooL
They are intended for the protection of the date groves, and are capa
of containing fifteen or twenty men.

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