Page 86 - A Hand Book of Arabia Vol 2_Neat

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WESTERN ROUTES (Nos. 17-39) 45

The other, which was taken by Doughty, lies more to the N., and,
afier crossing the edge of the harrah in a north-easterly direction,
strikes Route No. 20 at Beidha Nethll.
Supplies. Water is abundant at Kheibar and Beidha Nethil, and
elsewhere is plentiful after rain ; at any season the supply would
probably suffice for small caravans. Fuel and fodder are not scarce,
except in the harrah.

The most travelled tracks in this section, the routes of the Persian
Pilgrimage between Ha’il and Medina and Mecca respectively, are
the least known to us, simply because, as Shiah Pilgrim tracks,
they are not favourable avenues for Christian travellers. That
between Ha’il and Medina (Route No. 22, from Medina to Ha’il)
was followed by Wallin in 1845 ; but, beyond recording that he
traversed it in 85 hours’ fast marching, he has left no account of his
journey. Like all the routes to the Centre, it encounters its main
physical difficulties in its earlier stages, when it crosses the high
harrah country which lies east of Hejaz. It is subject to Harb
raids. It was attempted unsuccessfully in autumn, 1904, by a
Turkish force bound for Ha’il, vrhich had to turn back after much
suffering from lack of sufficient water in the wells and the opposition
of the Harb. The only point near its line where a force could halt
and recruit is the oasis of Kheibar, about 70 miles N. of Medina.

The direct road from Mecca to Ha’il (Route No. 23) has been'seen
by no European south of Mustajiddah (near to which point Doughty
wandered in 1877), with the exception of a small section in tho
southern part traversed by Burton on his route from Medina to
Mecca ; and, as of Route No. 22, nothing more can be said of it in
particular than appears in the description on p. 152 ff. It also is
much raided by the Harb. Doughty says of it (ii. 52) : ‘ Erom
Havil to Mecca are five hundred miles at least, over vast deserts,
which they pass in fifteen long marches, not all years journeying
!
by the same landmarks, but according to that which is reported
of the waterings (which are wells of the Aarab), and of the peace
or dangers of the wilderness before them. Ibn Rashid’s Haj have
been known to go near by Kheybnr, but they commonly hold
a c°urse from Mustajidda or the great watering of Semira, to pass
casfc of the Harrat el-Kcsshub, and from thence in other tw^o days
descend to the underlying Mecca country by Wady Laymun.’
,bis would mean a detour somewhat to the east of a straight line
drawn between Mecca and Ha il.