Page 570 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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288 SOUTH-WESTERN ROUTES

miles.
total, stages.
Dir. N. generally, over level ground for half a mile •
then a gradual descent, difficult owing to loose
stones.
2 m. Wadi en-Nakhein, dry river bed, with two or
three rain-pools, but water bad owing to con­
tinual fouling by camels.
There is a good camping-ground about half
a mile off road to W., and not very good water
at Bir Nakhein still farther W., but difficult
to reach. Trees fringe both banks of wadi;
small patches of cultivation ; good grazing.
Cross wadi to open plain of Mis-hal, which
is dotted with villages but ill supplied with
water ; 34 m. to Mis-hal.
28 12 Mis-hal, village, with one stone house, tower, and cluster
of huts ; deep well with brackish water, Bir Mis-
hal, about two and a half miles distant from road.
Dir. NE., -winding through low foot-hills for about five
miles to the Ba'idi plain. Track shortly passes
striking landmark to 1., the peak Qam Marshad,
200 ft. high above plain.
10 m. El-'Ain, hamlet; well, and scanty cultivation.
This is the only water between Mis-hal and
Dakhlah.
3 m. Heid el-Akad, hill passed on r.
2 m. Heid Khurf, peak, one mile to 1.
48 20 Dakhlah, hamlet to 1. ; much ground under cultivation,
with good crops.
From this point there are alternative tracks to
Nisab : (a) westerly, followed in route; {b)
easterly (see below, p. 293 f.).
Dir. NW., between peaks of Kalah and Zibb ; at too
of latter there is a small settlement, Hafa. " i 1
two shrines. Track awkward, being much in ei
sected by embankments, artificial gullies, am
dry water-beds.
7 m. Mijda, village situated on 1. bank of Wiidi
Ruqub upon spur of Maran Range . _ some
600 inhab. ; the shrine of toil* Ann
Bin Sa'ld, a prominent landmark, _ -
by, where there is a spring of good