'Routes in Arabia' [‎431] (464/852)

431
Route No. 113— cone W.
J. Kubati, is crossed. A narrower cultivated valley is then
entered, several small villages lying on either hand, and a well,
Biraa, reported good, is passed in a palm grove to south of tho
track at mile 4. The cultivated valley of Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Majusha with
low wills on either side is traversed. At some points, cactus
and scrub grow fairly thickly. The village of Salim is passed
on the left, on a hill of that name, soon after mile 5, and another
village Salim inhabited by Saiyids, with the shrine 'Umar
Ibrahim on the right at mile 5J. J. Shokan lies about a mile
to the notrh. At mile 6, Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Nifakha, a sandy nullah thickly
wooded with tamarisk jungle, is crossed. The tamarisk con
tinues thick into the next small valley from v hioh a shallow
defile leads gradually up a stony, cactus-covered upland slop
es down to the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Ma'din, which is reached at mile
7. The small hill J. Kuhlan closes this upland, which is an
excellent site for a camp, to the north.
A track from D.ir Farshah branches northwards from
near the widi of 'Umar Ibrahim before Kuhlan is reached. It
passes just to the east of the village of Tafih, mostly over un
dulating, uncultivated ground between the hills of Turra and
Furi to Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sh ab, which it crosses. Thence an ascent of f mile
over a somewhat stony pass between the high hills of Kawa on
left and Nabat on right, and a descent of the same distance.
It joins the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Ma'din in Turkish territory near the village
of Anashi. This track is used by caravans to avoid passing the
Humaidi tower Dar 'Abd Muhammad. The path is stony and
in need of improvement, but offers no serious difficulty to trans
port. It is far more direct as a road from Dar Farshah
to Mafalis than the winding bed of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Ma'din, but there
is no suitable halting place with water or supplies on the road.
The road can be joined from Kuhlan itself near Tafih.
The pass between Kawa and Nabat is called the Najd
Rifad and the track takes its name from this. In case of
hostilities this would be a better route than the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Ma'din.
There vould be no difficulty were the two hills Kawa and
Nabat held. These heights are commanded, though not at
close range, by the mountains on the opposite (right) bank of
the Mi'din.