'Routes in Arabia' [‎325] (358/852)

325
Route No. 90— cordd.
There are several wells. The'chief one, a large well with
plenty of good water, is 400 yards north of the palace and close
to the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Mathwan.
Most supplies are procurable here, but any large quantity
would have to be brought from a distance. There is no fuel
on the spot but it can be obtained in a few hours. Ihe country
in the immediate neighbourhood of the town is absolutely des
titute of trees or cultivation except for a small garden where a
few vegetables can be obtained.
The best place for a camp is the open ground near the tovvu
between the Wadis Udeba and Mathwan, the rest of the country
being sandhills.
1 RAHWAT-AL- •• 16 m. Leaving Shuqrah
MAKANA. the track s 0 ^ P ar ; !
to the coast for about
U miles and then turns inland. At mile 3 it crosses a dry
river bed and 400 yards further on it begins to ascend with an
average slope of 3° and not more than 4° m any place. The road
itself is only a camel track and is very stony, making the going
decidedlv bad ; it consists of volcanic debns, of which there aie
quantities on both sides of the road. At mile 10 the road crosses
the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -ath-Themalul. Somewhere below this point water
is generally to be found. The water in the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Themalul consists
of rain pools which have generally been so fouled by camels that
even horses will not drink it, but there is a spring whteh changes
fts position frequently and there fairly good water may be obtain
ed. Information should be obtained of the water here not moie
than a dav before it is required and by a party of one 8 Own men,
not from Arata. Arabs like to halt for the eight a Wadt-ath-
Themalul, but it is a bad place and it is advisable to reach t
head of the pass. After crossing the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. the road commenc •
its only steep ascent, which is from 2S0 to o00 yards long, with
a slope of 7°. At the top of this the road turns a good deal more t
the east with a rise of 3° for J mile, where it turns again to the
north with an average rise of 1° for rather over a mile. Jor tho
next Vi miles the road, except for one small place, ^ uuls a o
the bed; of small wadis with a very s ight use but owm to tl^
gravelly nature of the soil it is very heavy. One of these