"الطرق في بلاد فارس" [‎٤‎٠] (٨٥٢/٧٣)

40
Route No. 11— concld.
Baqa'a is situated in a large hollow of light coloured sand
stone, lying east and west, and containing a sabakhah (salt-pan).
The settlement is in two parts, the eastern called Sahaibah,
and the western, Uwaimi. Between them is a group of old
houses called Sharqi, and also known as Hammam, or Maraiqib.
Close by is an isolated patch of cultivation, without palms,
called Qasaifah and another called Qawaian. There is abundant
but indifferent water at Baqa'a at from 27 to 33 feet. The best
water is that in Qasr-al-Uwaimi, from a well called Samhah.
Good palm trees. Some cultivation of wheat and barley. To
the north -east | mile is a plateau of bare rock, called Qathiyan,
or Qitaiyan.
13 KHASIRAH .. 19 m. West-south-west.
Good going over fairly
355 m level sandstone desert
At Khasirah, 30 wells of fair water at from 20 to 23 feet.
The wells are silted up, and the water is shallow. The Wadi
Hail begins here and trends west-south-west.
14 HAIL .. .. 29 m.* West-south-west.
384 m. 3-i
At mile 6, the small sandstone hill of Sailiyah, covered with
inscriptions, is passed.
At mile 12, Wadi Shaqiq, containing pools of water after
rain. Good fuel, and camel grazing. Some rough ground is
then crossed.
At mile 19, Amadhan.
At mile 20, the sandstone ends and a granite plain is traversed.
About mile 26 route leaves the open plain and runs down a
ravine-like wddi, bordered with palm gardens. For Hail, see
Route No. 8, Kerbela-Hail, which is here joined.
♦Mr Gaskin puts the journey between Sha'arah and Khasirah at 16 hours,
and that between KJiasirah and flail at 13 hours. If these figures artr correct
ft would anoear that his estimats.of 27 miles as being the distance from Khasirali
to Hail Koute No. 10) were too low.—C. C. R. M.
Note —Without passing through Khadhra, but going direct from Trubah to
Balaghbiyah, Huber makes the journey from Hail to Nejef about 370 miles.—
0. C. ii- M.