Page 336 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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WESTERN ROUTES
170

miles.
total, stagos. . .
237 24 Bir ‘Asfdn, a llajj station with a large, deep, stone-
i
lined well of good water ; no village according to
Burckharclt, but now reported to have a popula­
tion of over 500 ; sec I, p. 122.
Dir. SE. by S., gently descending a broad wooded
l|
valley and then traversing a plain overgrown in
i places with trees and thick shrubs.
. I
S-. i 9 m. Sebll el-Qamh, a well, now filled up. The
route crosses the stony waterless plain of
i: Qa'rah.
•J
253 16 Qa‘rah, camping-place in a black flinty plain ; no water ;
a few thorny trees.
Dir. SE. by S., traversing the gravelly plain of Barqa,
•! which bears a few trees.
: 11 m. The track enters open country devoid of
trees.
Dir. SE. by S., gently descending through valleys full
;! of acacias.
2 m. Cross Wadi Fatimah, here about 2 m. wide.
:i
•i 26S 15 Wadi Fatimah. The camping-ground is on the S. side
of the wadi, in a section known as Wadi Jemmum,
which extends about 34 m. W. to Madwah and
about 11 m. ENE. till it joins Wadi Leimun.
The ground is low and abounds in springs and
: wells ; there is much cultivation, but mostly on
;i
the N. bank. Near the camping-place a small
<
rivulet, 3 ft. broad, and 2 ft. deep, runs in a
covered stone channel, but it is open for a short
distance for caravans to water.
Dir. SSE.
44 m. The route turns a hill.
>•:
Dir. SE.
2 m. Meimuniyah (or Meimumah), a ruined build­
ing with tomb near a well of sweet water
and a small stone cistern. The track, now
almost level, runs through valleys of firm
sand between low hills; there are some
shrubs here and there.
S m. ‘Omrah. Thence the road is paved in parts,
particularly on the ascents.
2S5 17 MECCA, town ; see I, pp. 123 ff.

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