'Routes in Arabia' [‎545] (578/852)

545
R oute N o . 157— conti.
At mile 18, As-Safrah, a village composed of scattered houses
which are distributed in the numerous date groves of the valley
of the same name. It is the principal market-place of the sur
rounding tribes. Water is plentiful from a stream, wells, and
springs. Extensive cultivation of dates, fruits, cereals, vege
tables, and balsam. Honey, drugs, and perfumes are also ob
tainable.
Here Burckhardt's route from Mecca to Al-Madinah joins in,
4 WADI A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. MADIK .. 16 m. North-north-east.
The route goes up-
79 m. hill steeply.
At mile 2, village of Al-Kharma.
At mile 5, Dar-al-Hamra, a village protected by several watch-
towers on the surrounding hills; cultivation, including that
of bananas, in the vicinity. A little further to the northward
is Mokad, a village with some date cultivation.
At mile 9, Jadaidah village ; and at mile 11, Al-Khaif, a large
village in the pass leading to the plain of An-Naziyah. Al-
Khaif is of importance owing to its position near the head of
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Jadaidah, the only pass through which caravans from
Yanbo' and Mecca can reach Al-Madinah.
At mile 16, halting-place in a wide part of Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Madik, with
good water from a mountain spring ; durra, and other cultiva
tion, in the vicinity.
5 WADI A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -ASH- .. 30 m. North-north-east.
SHUHADA. Route leaves Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
109 m. Madik and crosses,
to mile 6, the Nazlyah plain which is 10 m. long and covered
with acacia trees; a small plain called Shab-al-Hal is next
traversed, after which the track winds over some granite rock
and calcareous ridges to the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -ash-Shuhada which is entered
at mile 17, and followed to the end of the stage. At mile 28, pass
tombs of some Muhammadan martyrs from whom the valley
is named.
At mile 30, halt in the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -ash-Shuhada; no water.
6 AL-MADINAH .. 29 m. East-north-east.
To about mile 18, the
138 m. Wi route runs across the
plain of Al-Faraish which is covered with red granite rocks ;