Page 408 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

« (

206 WESTERN ROUTES

miles.
total, stages.
dah spring, 1. of the road ; and the ‘Alamein,
which mark the E. limit of the Haram.
m. Mesjid Nimrah or Mesjid Ibrahim, a mosque.
14 14 ‘Arafat (see I, p. 28) ; during the pilgrimage there are
three bazaars, viz., &'uq el-Qurein (Grain), Suq Ahl
Jiddah, and Suq el-Keblr.

There is an Alternative Route from Mecca to Ta’if,
which follows a line more to the N. It is longer
than the track given above, but is used by cara­
vans wishing to avoid the difficulties of Jebel
Qora. The four daily stages are as follows :
MECCA. The track runs by way of Wadi Leimun.
About 10 m. short of the first stage (Zeimah) are
several steep ascents.
Zeimah, a ruined castle at the extreme end of Wadi i
Leimun ; copious springs of water.
Seil, a rivulet, which flows across a treeless plain;
abundance of pasturage.
The road now enters a mountainous tract, and goes
for 6 hrs. through a difficult passage.

Aqrab, situated in a high plain at about 3 hrs. distance i
from Ta’if.
TA’IF, town ; see I, p. 126 f.