'Routes in Arabia' [‎562] (595/852)

562
R oute N o . 167— contd.
Tho soil of the plain is soft sand, but not entirely barren. The
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sadr is one of the most fertile spots on the coastal plain.
The route crosses it in a north-north-easterly direction towards
Jabal Harab at about m. 27, and skirts along the foot of the hill
which runs east-north-east and gives rise to a wide opening
through the main chain. At m. 31 the route begins to pene
trate the rugged defiles of the interior of the chain. The first
valley is called Al-KahoJah. At m. 35 the direction changes
to north-east, and the valley takes the name of Al-Halaiqah.
At m. 44 a defile, Naqb-al-Halaiqah, is entered. At m. 4
the summit of the defile is passed, and the route descends into
ct.i open circular plain called As-Suwaiqah, about 3 miles in
diameter. The route crosses this plain to the hills on the south-
south-east border. At m. 51 a valley, Al-Muraihah, is en
tered. At m. 57 the route enters a pass, Dhaiqat-as-Sa'lul,
and at m. 61 enters Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sawawln, a regularly defined valley
sloping rapidly to the west-south-west. The route here turns
north-east, and follows a difficult track along the bottom of the
valley, which is much encumbered with huge stones, to mile
69, where it ascends a very steep defile, Naqb-as-Sawiwm, to the
watershed between the valleys running to the Red Sea and
the interior at m. 71. All along the route there have been scat
tered acacia trees, and some herbage, and in certain places date
and almond trees. On the east side of the watershed the
tejcent is very gentle. The route descends into the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
Rawiyin and follows it in an east-south-easterly direction to
m. 74. It then turns east-north-east, and enters Al-Hisma, a
vast plain of soft, but not entirely barren, sand, with occasional
patches of rocks and a few isolated hills. At m. 98 Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. 'Unainid
crossed ; it is a ravine resembling the dry bed of a torrent,
descending from tho Jabal Harrah in a north-north-westerly direc-
tion between hillocks and ridges of loose sand. There is a well
of good water (probably near the mountains ?) and much her
bage ^nd brushwood. The country becomes somewhat hilly
and at m. 101 the route enters a narrow pass between two per
pendicular cliffs. At m. 103 the route leaves the pass, and tra
verses the level plain of Al-Baqqar.
m " ^Tabuk, a village of about 50 families with a guard-
tower. The houses are of clay.