'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎84r] (172/180)

157
Starting
point.
Halting
place.
Character of
halting place.
Description of the intermediate stage.
Faraikh
Qallah
Mahafidh.
See paragraph
on topography
above.
The distance by road is 15 miles and the direction
nearly due south. The Faraikh valley is followed
for 2 miles, after which Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Manghol (the
northern boundary of the Dhaid plain) is crossed
and the plain of Dhaid entered. Dhaid village is
reached at a little over 5 miles. For 2 miles
beyond the village the route lies over the open
plain: it then drops into the bed of Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
Kathairah, which it follows for 2 miles to the
wells of Wushah; it then cuts across another
stretch of plain and at 13 miles reaches the ascent
to Qallah Mahafidh. Just before this ascent is
reached there is good grazing for camels; on the
plateau beyond none is obtainable for some
miles. Water for this halt is taken from Wushah.
Qallah
Mahafidh.
Musaifi.
See paragraph
on topography
above.
The distance to the traveller is 18 miles, and the
direction nearly due south. The Qallah Maha-
fihd plateau is traversed for 3 miles; the hollow
containing the Hamdah well is then crossed; and
at 12 miles the well of Yahfar-al-Faiyah is
reached. Throughout this march, after Qallah
Mahafidh is left behind, Jabal Faiyah is upon the
right at one or two miles distance, and the path
winds over a well-wooded sandy plain. An
alternative halting place to Musaifi is Yidaiwi,
also in the Madam plain but 6 miles further to
the south-west.
Musaifi
Haza'-adh-
Dhabi.
Do.
The actual distance is 19 miles and the general
direction is nearly due south. The route crosses
between 10 and 12 miles a projecting tongue of
the western sand desert. At 14 miles it falls into
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Samaini in which it continues almost until
the halting place is reached.
Haza'-adh-
Dhabi.
Misakin.
(N.B.—Jhis is
not the Misakin
well but a place
near the right
bank of Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
Misakin higher
up.)
See article
Mahadhah.
The distance by road is 16 miles and the average
direction of the track, which is crooked, is a little
to the west of south. At 1 mile Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Samaini is
crossed, and one of its tributaries is ascended
from this point for 2 miles. The rolling sand
hills of Ramlat 'Anaij are then crossed for 3
miles, and at their conclusion Bat-hah Sanaibil is
intersected. Sand dunes of milder and less
barren appearance follow, and at 9 miles the
peculiar well of Safwan is reached. At 11 miles
the traveller crosses the dry Bat-hah Nawai-i and
ascends to the sandy Shibhat-al-Khadim tract
which continues for 10 miles: he then enters an
extensive depression in the sandhills, the drainage
of which is carried by Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Misakin,
Misakin
Jimi Village in
the Baraimi
Oasis.
See article
Baraimi Oasis.
The distance by route is 20 miles, and the general
direction is south-south-west. The route runs at
first more west than south along Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Misakin,
just before leaving which the Misakin well on the
right is passed: for the next 4 miles it lies over the
gentle sandy undulations of the Batin-al-'Ovan
and the direction is southerly. After this it
wanders for 7 miles in the difficult sandy desert of
Ramlat Kahal. Mas'udi is the first settlement
passed after dropping from the high sand-dine
tract into the Baraimi Oasis.
The total distance from Ras-al-Khaimah Town to Jimi by this route 1S 125 miles,
and the journey is generally performed by caravans in 6 to 8 days. There is no
well-worn track, and no two caravans follow exactly the same course. Camel
transport is the only kind used in travelling by this line; tor donkeys 4he only
other beast of burden available—cannot, when laden, negotiate the sandy tiacts