'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. II' [‎1344] (399/688)

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NAFOD
It is possible that it connects with the belt called El-Bitteh, which must come very closa
indeed to it on the south.
El-Bitteh is the northern extension of a long, isolated sand-belt which extends for
235 miles, starting from the borders of Woshm and 'Aridh, and reaching to within 30
miles of the Northern Nafud. It is divided from the Dahanah by the Tuweik uplands
having a general direction of south-south-east by North-north-west. That portion of
the belt north of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. er-Rummah is called El-Bitteh. In character it is typical
Dahanah, being composed of parallel ridges of sand divided by valleys of hard soil
At its northern end there are seven strips of sand each about a mile broad, hi
between them being gravelly valleys of the same width. The dunes face north, and
their sides are very steep. Further to the south, on the Boreideh track, is a single
down-like wave of sand, 300 ft. high, called Nuwathir, supposed to be connected with
El-Bitteh. The Bitteh retains its Dahanah like character from about 85 miles. The
track from Basra, or Koweit, to Boreideh, by way of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. er-Rummah, crosses it
as such, but a little further on the parallel ridges come together into one broad belt.
The remainder of El-Bitteh is of the Nafud type. Between Zilfi and Boreideh it is a
solid sand-ridge, 13 miles broad, characterized by three depressions containing un
inhabited palmgroves. The dunes are said by Raunkiaer to trend from south-west to
north-east. Near Shaqra the belt is eight miles wide, the sands being easy to traverse.
Here it is called Araj el-Bildan or Nefud el- Woshmt
Within this last belt, 20 miles to the west, is yet another of the same type. We
know if for about 100 miles running nearly due north and south from Boreideh to lat.
25 p . Beyond this point it is entirely unknown. East of Boreideh, where it surges to
the very edge of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. er-Rummah, is a five-mile ridge of big dunes ; west of
Shaqra it is fifteen miles across, and more difficult to traverse than the Nafud el-Woshm.
The only other sand-area on the eastern confines of Nejd is a small belt in the space
between the Temamma and Tuweiq ranges, which Pelly recorded on his track between
Ormah (Rumhiyeh) and Sedus. This is a four-mile wide ridge, running parallel to
the Temamma range ; apparently the sands are deep, for Pelly speaks of a ' giganti©
pyramidal dune.'
The vegetation of Nafud has its areas and its distribution is not accidental.
The part where most fuel is found is Bihbuh next the Habl-as-Saif. No other part
of the Nafud approaches these two. The part where there is least fuel is Al-Batrah ;
only nasi and sabat is found there.
Although Bihbuh is richest in fuel, all the desert plants are not found there, but only
Artah, 'Adar, 'Alqahl, Q.urdhi, Mati, and in winter, 'Ashub.
In another great part of the Nafud, Zor, are the following;—All the above and in
addition, Ghadhah, Ears, Dhumran, and 'Arad.
The regions favoured by Ghadhah are.
The route Jauf—Jubbah.
East of A1 Khunfah—South of J. Tawil.
The part where there is most 'Ashub in spring (after the winter rain) is Zor. The least,
m Al-Laban where the Nafud is white—the sterile white Nafud is called Al-Barakhis
(plr. of Barkhus). 1 ho red is called Nafud Samra, a term used to express the fertile
Nafud. r
The white is quartz. The red is grit, smaller and lighter than the quartz.
When the wind is strong it carries the red grit off the crests of the ta'as, leaving the
white quartz grain behind, which gives them a white aspect and renders them sterile.
The Bedouins use the name Adh-Dhahi for the Nafud.
Al-Faluh. The most difficult part of the Nafud ; a succession of steep hills and deep
valleys. r r
AlMohgean. A high ridge of fine sand running for many miles from east to west.
Desert plants grow in abundance but soon wither, and the high bushes and small trees
which are everywhere to be seen are without leaves except in winter
Al-Bamyat-Northern part of Nafud near mined well of Shaqiq. ' An extensive plain
with hollow pits which change with the force of the wind.
Wl l0n |^ W C i ai ". (bl f a i k) * wa - v betwc en J. Auja and J. Tawil.
dant Ghadhah round it. "' ' Riwi &h.
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