Page 634 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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320 SOUTH-EASTERN ROUTES

miles.
total, stages.
market gardens supplying Matrah and
Muscat. The place is of military importance,
as all routes from Matrah to the interior
diverge here.
1 m. Cross Wcldi ‘Adai.
Dir. WSW. across hilly ground.
4 m. Wadi Boshar, large plain or drainage basin,
extending along coast to Wadi Sema’il.
Continue WSW. across Wadi Boshar,
passing villages with date-plantations.
Cross spur of Western Hajar to Wadi
Sema’il, which is entered at Fanjah.
32 32 Fanjah, town of about 450 houses, with small bazaar
and fort, on 1. bank of Wadi Sema’il; date-groves
and cultivation extend along wadi for nearly
three miles ; population 3,000. There are two
hot springs near the town.

[An Alternative Route from Muscat to Fanjah
(46 m.) runs by the coast from Muscat to Sib
(29 m.), and from Sib to Fanjah (17 m.), as
follows :

MUSCAT, see above, p. 319.
[For coast road to Sib, see Route No. 73, p. 329 f.]
29 m. Sib, capital of vilayet; see I, p. 254.
Leave through date-groves and gardens on S.
side of town.
Dir. SSW., across coastal plain, partly sandy, partly
stony, and uncultivated. After crossing a small
rise, enter Wadi Iihodh (the name of Wadi
Sema’il in its lower course). Ascend wadi
through date-groves.
7 m. At about this point track leaves wadi and
returns, after traversing barren valley.
2 m. Khodh, village of about 200 houses and
fort, on r. bank of Wadi Serna'il, known
above this point as Wildi Fanjah.
6 m. Tasdicir, hamlet of about 25 houses on
r. bank.
2 m. Fanjah, on 1. bank (17 m. from Sib).]