Page 332 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

f
ins WESTERN ROUTES

miles.
total, stages.
Dir. SSW., at lir.st over level ground. The track then
descends Wadi Zaqdq (Zogag), which at first is
very narrow and dilhcult for camels, but gradually
becomes wider and less steep ; stony ground all
the way, with a few acacia trees here and there. '
12 m. Leave Wadi Zaqdq and descend among low-
rocky hills.
2 m. Enter mountainous country with Jcbel Subh
on the E. The route follows enclosed
valleys of sandy soil, full of detached rocks.
Many valleys in the neighbourhood arc fertile
and produce dates and dhurra ; the balsam
tree is principally found here, and Arabian
senna is collected exclusively in tills district.
11 m. The route leaves the mountains at an angle
made by the main coastal chain and a branch
range running W. towards the sea. i
Dir. S. by E.
96 28 Bir esh-Sheikli, a well, solidly cased with stone, 30-40 ft.
deep and 15 ft. in diameter, situated in a sandy
plain.
Dir. S. by W. over low hills and uneven ground. (
Then for several miles the road runs parallel to
a low ridge of mountains on the E. A sandy
plain covered with brushwood is crossed, with
Jebel 'Aydb lying about 6 m. to E. ; the track
then traverses a flinty plain, with here and there
stretches of clay capable of cultivation.
128 32 Masturah, two good stone-linecl wells with a copious i
supply of water, near a ruined tomb.
[For a slightly variant description of the country
traversed in the following stage to Rabugh, see
below, Route No. 35, p. 196. From Hamra
(see above, m. 63 of route) the Hajj caravans
sometimes follow' a track to Beder (see Route
No. 33, II, p. 190) and thence to Masturah.]
Dir. S. by E., over flinty ground, among sandhills
with a few scattered trees ; then over hilly and
sandy ground.
158 30 Rabugh, a group of 3 or 4 detached hamlets ; see I,
p. 122. The sea is about 7 m. distant. t

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