Page 404 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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204 WESTERN ROUTES

miles.
total, stages.
the Mecca conduit issues from the hills.
Vegetables are cultivated in a vallev leading
off S.
The road now becomes rocky and is enclosed between
mountains ; valleys cross in all directions ; acacia
trees occur in great abundance.
6 m. Wadi Numan is entered. There are some
wells and a few plantations to S.
4 m. Shedad, cluster of huts and coffee-shops; i
wells of very good water.
32 32 Jebel Qora. The route begins to ascend the outlying
flanks of this mountain chain, which forms the
great watershed between Mecca and Ta’if. From
Mecca to this point the ascent has been easy and
gradual, almost imperceptible.
14 m. Qabr er-Raflq, a tomb built of loose stones.
14 m. Qahwat el-Qdra, a few huts among boulders
on the slope of the mountain, near a stream
which comes down from a spring at the head
of the pass. The real ascent of Jebel Qora
here begins. Camels are unloaded and their
burdens carried to the top of the pass by
mules and asses, for which purpose some 200
are kept here. At the top other camels are
ready, to carry on to Ta’if. The ascent is by
a very steep and bad road, with many wind­
ings. Steps are cut in certain places, and
some half a dozen resting-places have been
made at intervals. The stream mentioned
above is crossed several times.
5 m. Naqb el-Ahmar, an isolated peak (500 ft.
above the track) is passed to r.
42 10 Ras el-Qdra, a village at the top of the pass, in a plain
about 3 m. long by 1 m. broad, with large masses
of granite scattered about. The plain is well
irrigated by a number of small rivulets of ex­
cellent w-ater. There are walled fields among the
rocks, and fine trees. Many of the fruits of
Europe flourish here, especially the vine, which
produces grapes of the best quality, but there
are no palms.

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