'IRAQ AND THE PERSIAN GULF' [‎95r] (194/862)

DESCRIPTION OF THE LAND
119
A line of perennial water-holes and shallow wells extends along
the southern edge of Ar Rahab and into Dibdibba as far south as
Shagra, though water is brackish in some of these wells. These occur
regularly at intervals of from 7 to 10 miles and are believed by geolo
gists to be fed by rainfall in the mountains of south-west Persia. The
water-supply is sufficient for tribesmen to raise small crops and some
primitive irrigation is practised; but the soil is too salty for extensive
cultivation, a condition which probably is the cause of the water being
slightly brackish.
Routes across the Hajara and Dibdibba. These southern deserts of
Iraq have to be crossed by caravans from the head of the gulf or the
cities of the Euphrates in order to reach central Arabia. Though hot
and waterless over considerable stretches at the height of summer,
they are easy to cross in winter or spring when rain-pools supply
water, and grazing is plentiful. But even at these seasons caravans
tend to keep to certain routes, which converge from different points
on the railway between Basra and Samawa, and from Najaf, on the
wells at Lina and Turbiya near the western end of the Dahana and
Ardh al Madhu sand-belts. The most frequented routes are:
(1) The line of the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Batin from Basra and Zubair.
(2) From Jaliba to Abu Ghar in winter or from Tel al Lahm to
Qasr Nabaa in summer and thence by Busaiya, Tuqaiyid,
Jahama, and Ansab to Lina, a route known as Darb al Jaludiya.
(3) From Bat-ha to Ain Hamud, whence the Darb al Jaludiya can
be reached through Qusair at Tuqaiyid. Salman can also be
reached from Ain Hamud.
(4) The Darb al Khaif and Darb as Salman, two routes from Samawa
which meet at Takhadid and continue on as the Darb as Salman
or Darb al Haj to Lina, and as the Darb al Khaif to Ansab.
(5) The Darb Zubaida from Najaf through Tallahat, Athamin,
and Jumaimu to Turbiya.
The Darb as Salman has been traversed by wheeled traffic at all
times of the year without much difficulty, and it was this route to Hail
in the Jabal Shammar which Turkish columns took in 1903 and in
1905, though on each occasion they had been invited by the Emir of
Hail, who provided guidance and transport.
The Darb Zubaida was formerly the route taken by pilgrims to
Mecca, and there was a continuous series of tanks and reservoirs along
the route (p. 578). The present pilgrim road is by the Darb as Sal
man, which is the route now known as the Darb al Haj.