Page 402 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

ROUTE 38 : MECCA—TA’IF 203

miles.
total, stages.
Here the route turns gradually to E. by N. and
follows the high road to Wadi Mina, through
sandy valleys of varying width and devoid of
vegetation.

2& m. The country opens out towards the NE. and
the conical hill of Jebel en-Nur becomes visi­
ble, distant about 2 m.
2 m. A large stone tank, believed by Burckhardt
to be Sebil es-Sitt; it is filled during the Hajj
from the Mecca conduit,
m. Enter Wadi Mina, which extends E. and W.
for about 1 m., by a paved causeway, and
pass through the village of Mina, composed
mostly of ruined houses. Three small
columns, known as ‘ Satan’s pillars ’, at
which the pilgrims throw stones, are passed
in the village, one to 1. and two to r. of
the track. Beyond Mina, open country is
traversed.
Dir. bears E. slightly by S.
5£ m. Mezdelifah, a small mosque, almost in ruins,
and a tank of water. The road forks, to
rejoin at the ‘Alamein : one branch leads
over the mountains direct to ‘Arafat, and
the main track goes along the Dhob valley.
Follow the latter.
1 £ m. Enter Mazumein pass (known also as Medheiq)
leading into the plain of ‘Arafat.
H m. Bir Bazan (Basan), a stone tank with a small
chapel adjoining, in the ‘Arafat plain.
i m. ‘Alamein, two stone masonry columns on the
1. of the road, marking the E. limit of the
Haram.
The road goes over a plain with stunted acacia trees
and shrubs.
1 in. Jami‘ Nimrah (or Ibrahim), a large mosque in
decay, to r. of the road. Jebel ‘Arafat lies 2 m.
distant, and almost due N., at the extremity
=
of the plain.
lira. Qakicat el-Arafat, coffee-house and cluster
of huts, with a small tank near. Here