'File 73/7 II (D 22) Status of Koweit [Kuwait] - Baghdad railway, Anglo Turkish negotiations' [‎139r] (283/540)

then on again, the camels marching well. Camped at 4-30 p.m., in the same
desolate waste. The ground appears to have a very gentle rise the w*hole way
from Ash-Shag and water should drain ofi it in a south-east direction.
4th Marched at 9 a.m., as according to Khalaf the distance
between the " arafij " of Ash-Shag and the " hamth" grazing is 20 hours across
Al-Garaa at this point and we have done nearly 13 hours' good marching. Saw
first sign of life in distant troops of gazelle, making it certain we were not far
off possible grazing. Both yesterday and to-day saw several mirages of the
story-book type, one being a particularly beautiful one of a lake with trees and
palms overhanging it and their reflections showing in the water. At 1 1 -45 a.m.,
came on a shallow green dell into which every camel's nose went down at once,'
whilst the men with many ejaculatory " Thanks be to God ", " God is bountiful
etc., slid off their mounts and rushed to collect materials for a fire as soon as
permission was given for coffee to celebrate the occasion. After a rest of three-
quarters of an hour we started again for the edge of the " hamth " grazing now
visible. ^ Reached it by 1 -10 p.m., and camped so as to give the camels a chance
of getting some thing into their bellies. The " hamth ^ here is the most
uninviting-looking dired-up bush, but there was a certain amount of green herbage
at the roots of the bushes which the camels made for greedily. Saw some sand-
grouse flighting in the evening but much too high for a shot. Zaid successfully
stalked a hare which his hungry Bedcuin eyes located lying up under a bush
near our track. The camels have marched exceptionally well over the last two
days' waste.
5M Fehruary. —Marched at 9 a. m. and after an hour struck into the
" Jada" mentioned before. It is said to run quite straight from As-Safa to
Khabra-ud Dawis and then to bend eastwards to make At-Towil whilst a branch
from Khabra-ud-Dawish goes more or less straighten to Kuwait leaving the
Managish Hills on its north. The " Jada " runs more southerly than our course
hitherto and we followed it for the rest of the day all through " hamth " bushes
until we camped at 4-20. Camels marching badly to-day because they are
hungry and insist on grazing by the way. Ground still appears to be rising
very slightly.
6th February —Marched at 8-45 a, m. and soon found ground began to
change, several dry water-courses crossing the road flowing from west to east.
Was able to get bearings again as a few hills began to show up to south of the
track. At 12*30 p.m. began to descend into the basin in which the As-Safa
wells lie and at 1 -45 p, m. got to Thaleh-uth-Thuleh, the highest hillock in the
basin and overlooking the wells about a couple of miles further south-west.
Pitched camp under another hillock about f mile nearer the wells, and sent off
for more water as what was left of the Subaihiya supply furnished a long
anticipated bath. Marching of camels the last two days not at all good. Spent
the afternoon taking bearings all round. One of the baggage camels added a
ridiculous white baby to our numbers The event was welcome as supplying
fresh milk for the rest of the tour, though the infant will have to be carried for two
or three days.
yth February intended to halt here a day but the grazing is scanty
and the men fearful of possible raiders, for, though our " rafiqs " safe-guard us
from any Ajman or Umtair bands, other very distant tribes from Central Arabia
visit these well's. The wells are said to number about 20 and to average 25
fathoms in depth. They are nearly all stone-lined and are said to have been
the work of the ancients. They lie in a basin which has steep gravelly clay
cliffs of about 100 feet high on its northern edge, down which come rain-torrents
from the table-lsnd further to the north The ground is not so steep on the
opposite (southern) side and the depression seems to drain away north-north
east by a broad valley called Shaib-al-Faisal. We found the water in the wells
quite yellow and rather fouled by recent rains having washed in camel and sheep
droppings from the numerous adjacent camping places. It was fairly sweet and
is said to be the best water between Kuwait and Zilfi, a not impossible fact
considering there are only one or two other water-holes between As-Safa and
that place.