'Routes in Arabia' [‎674] (705/852)

674
B oute N o . 185—con^.
on the left is the Tigris about | mile off. At 5 miles the sandy
mounds on the right rise into low hills with abrupt and indented
cliffs about 70 to 100 feet high, pass through tamarisk scrub for
about a mile ; hills 1 mile on right; river 1 mile on left. At this
point pass a sandy bluff jutting out into the plain from the hills
Behind this bluff are the ruins of Kala Mekrum At 7
miles touch the river | mile wide: hills on right | mile •
the other stream of the river is out of sight, about 2
miles away At 9 miles the hills are about 400 yards to
the right and there is a stream of good water from the Tigris 100
yards to the left. At 11 miles again touch the river: from
here almost to Shariat-el-Hamra there is continuous cultivation •
the hills here are 600 yards to the right and 70 feet high and the
near stream of the river is 150 yards wide. At 14 miles, the
road meets the hills and there is a branch of the Tigris touch-
mg the same place : the road is broken away and would be diffi-
cult for guns or wheels; the water is good, 30 feet wide and 5
feet deep, the banks 25 yards across and 20 feet deep. After
this the road hugs the hills and is very pebbly : at 15 miles
cross a stream (Mahzm by name) (no water), pebbly bed of a
mountain torrent. I halted on the river bank j of a mile be
yond this on a projecting piece of level ground. This makes a
Thp W P1 f g if r0l T bl , lt in SOme years is under cultivation.
SLteat!el -hamr^ ^ r0ad ' hi " s and stream me<,t ia
Shee P .. .. 1,000")
nltT ;; ;;
7 T1KRIT. .. 13 mi On leaving the Mahzm
j 3j m the road enters and as-
, - . cends some low hills ("SO
tte Si anl :r ery Pe 5 bly - There " a littfe aoa ' !ta in
the valley and the summit is reached after about J of a mile •
th. road 1S then fairly good and the country nearly flat, buj
rather atony. At 4} miles cross broad shallow nullah the
road bemg very stony and the country undulating to raviucy
ately At^r T 'M gain nearIy flat and the r0! ' d
mJv ZL IPcoun is again undulating and
many deep and intricate ravines leading to the Tigris
are passed on the left. Throughout this march the connate