Page 84 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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COMMUNICATIONS !
• 44

Route No. 19, from Akaba to Teima, follows Route No. 18 as
far as Ma'an. After leaving the latter place it traverses a vast
limestone plain, the going being very good to Hausa, where it
crosses a prominent limestone mountain range. Then there
a hilly stage, and after that good going to Fajar, where the ground
is much broken with sandstone outcrops ; thenceforward the going

is again good. ,
Supplies* For the section from Akaba to Ma an, see above, p. 4o.
On the rest of the route water is scanty except at Ma‘an and Teima ; *
between Mughairah and Teima there is no water that can be
depended upon. Fuel is scarce between Hausa and Teima, but else­
where abundant. There is sufficient grazing for a small caravan to
Fajar ; after that fodder is very scarce till Teima is reached. General
supplies are obtainable only at Ma‘an and Teima.

(ii) Routes to the Centre

These all pass in the main through fairly well-watered steppe
country, which admits of detours from the direct line in all direc­
tions. Consequently different informants describe different routes
between the same points in this region more often than anywhere
else, their devious courses having been determined by the presence
of camps here and there, and by the comparative security of the
country, on one side or the other of the direct line, from Ha’il or
Ateibah raiders.

„ From two intermediate stations on the Hejaz Railway routes of
subsidiary importance lead to Ha’il. The more northerly of these
is Route No. 20, from Qal‘at el-Mu‘adhdham to Ha’il via Teima,
a camel-track which crosses a barren, stony desert with some out­
lying portions of the Nefud. It encounters no physical obstacles,
and in consequence presents a variety of alternative parallel tracks’
Supplies. Water is abundant at Teima, but elsewhere is scarce
except at Beidha Nethil. Fuel is scarce, but the camel-grazing alon<*
the route suffices for small caravans.

The more southerly of the two routes, Route No. 21, leads from
Hadlyah via Kheibar to Ha’il. On the second day after leaving the
radway the Harrah of Kheibar is entered and going becomes verv
cu Vn spite of the numerous camel-tracks which cross the
field. From Kheibar alternative tracks may be followed The one
followed by Huber in 1879 strikes Route No. 23 at Mustajiddah