Page 62 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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EASTERN ROUTES (Nos. 3-14) 33

Aiter leaving the coastal tracts and the oases, Route No. 11, from
‘Oqair, or Qatif, to Riyadh, resembles in its essential features Route
;So. 10, crossing the two waterless deserts of Summan and Dahanah ;
it passes no places with settled inhabitants between Hofuf and
Nejd. As has been already stated, attacks may sometimes be
expected from Bedouins (‘Ajman, Ahl Murrah, Beni Hajar, and
Dawasir), who also camp in the neighbourhood of the wells at
Ajaflyah. The country near Hofuf is reputed to be unsafe, and
caravans between that town and the coast go armed.
Supplies. At Hofuf and Qatif, grain, rice, sugar, fruits, and._ghi
, in small quantities ; nothing between these places and Riyadh.
Water cannot be obtained in the Summan and Dahanah zones, and
it is necessary to carry a five days’ supply. The wells to the E. of
the desert area, Judah and ‘Aweisah, are described as yielding water
in abundance. The same is the case with Abu Jifan on the W. side ;
but the supply at Ajaflyah is not always ample, and the pools at
Jalta Sadeiri are said to be at times exhausted. Between the W.
of Dahanah and Riyadh, the wells on the main route at Tarabi and
Miyahlyah afford a regular supply. On the section Qatif-Hofuf,
water is sufficient, but not of good quality. Between ‘Oqair and
Hofuf there is no scarcity by the longer route, except at Shatar ;
on the direct route followed by Raunkiaer there are no wells, Fuel
and fodder are scanty in the desert zones, and between the Hasa
oasis and Wadi Faruq.

(iii) Linking Coastal Roaites

_ The two preceding groups of routes are linked up by tracks from*
Koweit, which, running parallel to the coast, terminate at Hofuf
and Qatif respectively ; these are described in this subsection.
\
A third route connects Zobeir with Koweit, an easy track leading
from Basra to the wells of Zobeir, which lie in steppe 10 miles from 1
the town. From Zobeir there is a choice of two or three tracks
leading over low plateau country, with abundant ground-water at 1
trom 5 to 12 feet below the surface, to the Gulf coast at Khutai
(30 miles) At Uram Qasr, about half-way, is a small outpost station
°t the Sultan of Koweit. The first village on the shore with <mod
£ater (not salt) is Jahrah, 14 miles farther, where the Sultan of
Koweit keeps an outpost force.

Route No. 12, from Koweit to Hofuf,
traverses the Koweit districts
‘Allan, Salfr,
. Hazeun, and budah, then the Hasa
Rada’if, Wadi el-Miyah, Habl, and Jauf. tracts of >
ARABIA II The route to Qatif
c