Page 526 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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266 SOUTH-WESTERN ROUTES

miles.
total, stages.
below) ; (6) Middle ; (c) Western through
Waht (details below). Take the Middle
track (6), which is the shortest of the three
alternatives (14 miles).
Dir. NW.
4 m. Bir Mohammed passed ; then Bir Ndsir, Bir
Amir (or 'Umar), and Bir Makki, all on E.;
water good and plentiful at each ; at first
through acacia jungle, then open and sandy
again.
5 m. Sibir (Subar), hamlet with conspicuous tower
and 3 good wells ; forage and supplies in
moderate quantities.
Jaldjil, hamlet among sand-hills; 2 good
wells. Road enters cultivation 2 m. before
Lahej.
21 21 LAHEJ, populous town of 10,000-15,000 inhabitants ;
see I, p. 208.

[The following are the two alternative tracks, (a)
and (c), from Dar-el-Amir to Lahej :
(a) Eastern.
Dar el-Amir; see above (m. 7 of route).

Dir. due N. over open sandy desert, generally
good and firm.
3 m. Bar Mansur, a little to E.; 2 wells, indif­
ferent water. Heavy going through sand.
2 m. Ddr Sheikh Ndsir.
2 m. Mud-built shrine of Salim *Othmdn. Open
camping ground and good well. Fiyiish is
1 m. to E. Country wooded with mimosa ,
road continues through heavy sand.
2 m. Bir Sa'id 'Ali, camp on firm sandy ground ,
3 wells with ample supply. .
[For the direct track from Bir Said A*1
to Bir Am Seifi (see below, p. 267), £hic'h
does not pass through Lahej, see Bon e
No. 63, p. 280.]
LAHEJ (17 miles from Dar el-Amir) ,
above.