Page 112 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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COMMUNICATIONS
1 58

Supplies. Water is plentiful throughout, except perhaps in some
parts between Qa‘tabah and Yerim ; fodder and foodstuffs afe
easily obtainable, except in some stages of the same section. •

Route No. 62, from Aden to Yerim, is suitable as far as Ta!izz
for all arms except wheeled artillery. It is a fairly easy and safe
road, with no serious obstacles to transport except in time of flood. j
From Ta‘izz to Yerim it is more difficult than in the preceding
section, owing to the steep and tortuous ascents and descents
encountered in places, but it offers no very great obstacles to
transport animals.
Supplies. Water is good throughout, and there is a sufficiency in
' all seasons. Fodder is plentiful, or easily obtainable, at most stages ;
there is good grazing for camels all along the route; and foodstuffs
(grain, cattle, chickens, eggs, &c.) are plentiful if notice is given i
beforehand.
I
(6) Of roads lying virtually altogether in the Protectorate,
Route No. 63, which runs from Aden to Qa‘tabah via Nubat Daklm
and Khoreibah, is the road that was regularly used by troops
and convoys marching from Aden to the Dhala plateau in 1903.
Wheeled artillery and camel-carts were taken as far as Nubat
Daklm, but not without difficulty, owing to heavy sand in parts. It
is suitable throughout for camels and mules, and lies at first through
generally open level country; then mountains are entered and there is !■:!
a long ascent, very difficult in parts, to the summit of the Khoreibah
pass, with a fairly easy undulating descent onwards to Qa'tabah.
Supplies. Water is sufficient in all stages, but must be filtered at
certain places ; and, if troops are marching in considerable numbers,
buckets, ropes, and tanks should be carried for drawing and storing.
Forage is plentiful in the lowland stages, but must be arranged for
beforehand ; it is also obtainable in fair quantities at certain places
in the mountain section. i

Route No. 64 is a variant of the above, running from Aden to
Qa‘tabah by way of Dhala. It is suitable for small mounted
parties only, on account of the severe waterless march across the
desert in the earlier stages, where only camel transport could pass ;
beyond that point mules may also be used.
Supplies. Water is plentiful, except in the second stage, where !
it must be carried. Fodder is plentiful or easily obtainable in the
nrst stage, non-existent in the second, but after that point procur­
able in moderate quantities.