Page 114 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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SOUTH-WESTERN ROUTES (Nos. 40-66) 59

The other two routes described afford access to the easterly
parts of the Protectorate. Route No. 65, from Aden to Shughrali
(Shuqrah), is part of the featureless coast route from Aden to
Makalla, and is very hot and unhealthy in the hot season.
Supplies. Water is scanty, the wells being of very limited capacity
and few and far between, and is mostly brackish. Fodder is plentiful
in the cultivated tracts round Wadi Bana, and in places along the
track there is a little grazing for camels.

Route No. 66, runs from Shughrah to Makalla by way of Nisab
and Balhaf. The first section as far as Nisab, leading inland, is an
exceedingly strenuous track, and may be divided broadly into
three sections : (a) a winding ascent through rough country from
the coast to the coastal upland of Jahein ; (6) a track over very
broken and mountainous country, difficult of access, across the
Kaur Range and the rugged Dahr plateau ; and (c) an awkward
approach along confined stony wadis to Nisab. From Nisab the
track turns again towards the coast, which is reached at Balhaf,
after passing through zones of similar country in the reverse order.
From Balhaf there is a cart road to Makalla.
Supplies. Water must be carried for the first three stages and
for the sixth stage, and the supply is very limited beyond Balhaf ;
elsewhere it is abundant. Fodder is plentiful throughout, the camel
grazing being especially excellent between Yeshbum and Balhaf.
Fuel is also abundant, the route traversing manv well-wooded
wadis. Foodstuffs, such as grain, dates, sheep, poultry and goats,
can be secured in plenty at Nisab and Yeshbum and at some of the
intervening settlements ; but at Balhaf and along the coast thefe
are practically no supplies. Honey, in considerable quantities,
and locally grown tobacco are procurable at Yeshbum.

F. SOUTHERN ROUTES (Nos. 67-69)

It is not known what routes lead from the coast across the Great
South Desert—nor even whether any such routes exist. If they do,
they can be feasible only for very small, very well mounted," and
very light parties at a season of the year when camels are in full
j™lk. It is known, however, that caravans go up to southern Nejd
from the south-east and south-west by rounding one flank or the
other of the Desert.
It is, however, easy to penetrate from the coast as far as the fertile
district of Wadi Hadhramaut: and two of the main tracks leading