Page 50 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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NORTHERN ROUTES (Nos. 1-7) 27 ,

Supplies. For water, see above. In full summer and autumn
.Jl supplies must be carried from the starting-point; but fuel and
fodder are generally found along the track in sufficient quantities
for small caravans.

Both the Hajj and the food-caravans bound for Ha’il now follow
the track via Hayyanlyah (Route No. 4, from Nejei to Ha’il) in pre­
ference to the Darb Zobeidah, on account of its directness and greater
safety from raiders. The line followed lies about 40 miles to the west
of the Darb Zobeidah ; the total distance is about 3574 miles. It runs
through grazing grounds, which from mid-winter to early summer
are occupied by the Shammar tribes ; while during spring and
summer the half-settled Shiah tribes, who own cultivated land and
mud villages on the Euphrates, descend to the desert to pasture
their sheep and donkeys as far south as 120 miles from Nejef.
Thus only the first stages from Nejef are sometimes insecure, while
for travellers authorized by the Shammar it may be regarded as
a safe road.
The track lies over good hard desert, except for the 50-mile wide
belt of Nefud, which is crossed during the last few stages. The
average altitude is between 1,000 ft. and 2,000 ft. The country
rises to 1,000 ft. above sea-level about 4 days to the south of Nejef ;
half-way to Hail it is 2,000 ft., rising slowly to 2,500 ft. on the
southern edge of the Nefud, and suddenly lifting to 3,500 ft.
at Ha’il. As far as the Batn the country is a featureless region
of stony flats and shallow ridges through which winds the Wadi
Hisb. The stony desert of Hajarah, which follows, has an ill repute
on account of loose sharp stones liable to lame camels ; but traveller
do not always note this feature. The eastern part of Nefud which
the route crosses is less difficult than the western half ; the sand
I
is seldom deep, while the track is well marked. No part of the ■
road is metalled, and, like other desert routes, it is impassable for
camels after rain, except where it crosses sand. Lying between the
Barb Zobeidah and the track via Bir Samlt and Hazil, the route
appears to be the most direct track between Nejef and Hail.
Supplies. Water is not plentiful. Along the northern part of the
route the presence of shepherds in the Batn and the Wadi Hisb
suggests that accessible pools must lie off the route between the
regular watering-places. At these, with the exception of Loqah,
there is only sufficient water for quite small parties. Although the
permanent wells along this route are very scanty, there are khabrahs,
or rain-pools, varying in number and extent according to the
season. Water lies in shallow bottoms on the southern edge of the