Page 157 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

ROUTE FROM HOOFOOF TO KATEEP—GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 115

Distance. Remarks.

Milos. Furls.
Third Day's March.
<) 0 From the Munzil to some Water-pits ; time three hours.—Undulating
ground. Track over sand hillocks all the way. Sand generally firm, but
very heavy in some places. Water good.
15 G From the Water-pits to the Munzil; time five and a quarter hours.—For
the first six miles the ground is as described in the first part of the
march ; it then becomes plainer, the hillocks dwindling into small
mounds, and about four miles further a small plain is entered. The
sand, however, is rather deep. Water at the Munzil good. From
some stunted shrubs near the Munzil a supply of underwood for fires
:
was generally obtainable.
Fourth Day's March.
12 0 From the Munzil to a Date Grove ; time four hours.—The first five or six
miles over undulating ground ; after which a plain of five or six miles,
very heavy sand in some places. Halted for half an hour at some date
trees, where there is a fine spring of water.
4 4 From the Date Grove to Kateef ; time an hour and a half.—The ground is
good all the way to Kateef. At first date trees on the left, with the fort
of Damaumand the sea on the right. Afterwards enter date groves, with
watercourses on each side of the road, and after passing a few little
villages arrive at Kateef.
78 6
General Observations.
In calculating the distances between Ojair and Iloofoof, &c. &c.
it was assumed that a camel performed three miles in the hour: but
this was deemed rather overrated, and that the respective distances of
Ojair and Kateef from Hoofoof do not exceed thirty-five and seventy
miles.
Of the two routes, that by Ojair. is preferable, provided carriage
can be obtained. Camels, with water, would be required to accompany
an expedition by either route; ?nd in regard to Ojair, as water is not
very plentiful at that place, it might be found necessary to transport
it from Bahrein.
A few days before, some heavy rain had fallen, which had rendered
the sand much firmer than it would otherwise have been; but even
then the transport of light artillery would have been a matter of
great labour.
Two days were taken up on the road from Ojair to Hoofoof, and four
from the latter place to Kateef,

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