Page 328 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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1G6 WESTERN ROUTES

miles.
total, stages.
5 m. Mountains entered. In this section the
route passes through a defile, where, for
20 yds. or so, it is necessary to go in single file.
2 m. The mountains arc left and Ndziyah plain
(10 m. by 6 m.) is entered.
44 23 Ndziyah plain, camping-place. The plain is thickly
covered with acacia trees ; good water is obtain­
able on the slopes of the mountains fringing the
plain, but not in the plain itself.
Dir SW. by S. On leaving the plain the route enters
a wide, winding valley (the Wdcli Medeiq of
Route No. 33), which it follows by a gentle
descent. Then the valley narrows and takes
the name of Wadi Jedeidah.
9 m. Kheif, situated at the head of Wadi Jedeidah,
the first of a series of villages and hamlets
passed in this wadi. It is described as
‘ one of the most important positions in
Hejaz, because it is the only way by which
caravans can proceed from Mecca, or Medina,
to Yarnbo' ’ (see Route No. 33, p. 1S8).
Dir. SW. The wacli becomes still narrower, and for
some distance the track is dangerously com­
manded from the hills ; then the wadi straightens
and descends sharply.
55 11 Jedeidah, a long straggling village, situated at the end
of Wadi Jedeidah ; springs of fairly sweet water.
Dir. SW., slightly by S., along a barren winding valley
about 300 yds. across.
4J m. Muq'ad, village with date-groves.
Dir. bears S. by W., the track descending a stony
valley for about 3 m., and then running over
level ground.
63 8 Iiamra, a village in a fiumara of reel-coloured sand
(hence the name), built upon a narrow- shelf
between a high steep hill and the sandy wacli
bottom, here about I m. wide ; houses of unbaked
brick and mud half in ruins. The village is
guarded by a fort with crenellated walls and
loop-holes, and there are several watch-towers
on the hill-ercsts along the valley on both sides.

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