Page 240 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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ROUTE 17 : MA‘AN—MEDINA 123

Diflt. km. Alt.
Intcr- Station.
Total. ft.
mcd.
gravel, and cut up by shallow
wadis. Most of the country is
fit for wheeled traffic, though
some earthwork would be neces­
sary occasionally at the wadi
banks. To the N. and E. the
s. plain extends beyond sight ; but
on the W. there is a line of
abrupt hills 10-15 km. off.
9 00 9 00 Railway crosses a depression

on a bank pierced with about 20
small openings, none above 3
metres broad.
15-86 6-S6 3,273 Ghadr el-Hajj A stone guard-house on E.
side of line ; one loop-siding of
250 yards. No water except in
barrels sunk in the ground, and
replenished from a tank-wagon
on the train (seven barrels in
1907). A few shrubs near sta­
tion. Rail follows pilgrim route
closely.
Thence over open desert as
before, crossing many shallow
valleys over numerous culverts,
none broader than 3 metres.
28-01 12-15 3,236 Bir esh-She- Stone guard-house on E. side
dlyah of line, to hold ten men. One
•y loop-siding. No natural water
(seven barrels in 1907).
Thence over hamdd, growing
more and more hilly, to
32-10 4-09 Stone bridge of five 6-metre
arches.
700 metres further S. is an­
other stone bridge of four 5-metre
arches.
38-26 6-1 Stone bridge of twelve 3-
metre arches.
Line ascends by easy gra-

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