"كتيّب الجزيرة العربية. مجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٢‎٩] (٥٤٢/٣٣)

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NORTHERN ROUTES (Nos. 1-7) 29
from 'Ayun el-Qasim to Boreidah, which is traversed also by
Route No. 15 (see p. 35), may be far from secure. The going is
heavy for laden camels while crossing the sand-dunes in the first
stage after Leinah, and again between Zubiri and Hubiiri. The
loose stones on the Hajarah desert and the Teisiyah plain are likely
to lame camels.
Supplies. Water at the first and third stages is of indifferent quality,
and at the second, fourth, and fifth stages the supply depends upon
rain. Leachman believes the Hajarah desert as a whole to be well
provided. At Leinah the water is so abundant that the wells are said
by the Dhafir to yield enough for their whole tribe. There seem to
be four waterless stages between Leinah and ZubTri, and two between
that place and Hubiri, where the supply is again dependent upon
recent rain. It is not till Quseibah that abundant wells are once more
reached, after which there is no further difficulty. Fuel and camel-
grazing are described as scarce in the early stages, but sufficient after
Leinah. The Nefud tracts furnish abundance, as also the wadi beds
in the Teisiyah plain. Provisions in any quantity are not obtainable
between Samawah and 'Ayun (pop. 4,000). Transport animals other
than camels are owned in numbers by the tribes about Samawah.
All these last routes are subject to Dhafir and other raids, and are
less safe in their early stages from the Euphrates valley than after
the Shammar dira is reached.
(6) From Silq esh-Shuyulch
The track from Suq esh-Shuyukh to Ha'il, which is here described
as Route No. 7, leaves the Euphrates at Suq esh-Shuyukh and, after
traversing a gravelly desert through the dira of the Muntefiq and
that of the Dhafir Arabs, reaches Leinah on the border of the Nefud.
It then crosses a tongue of the Nefud to Bir Beleghbiyah, whence it
follows the Darb Zobeidah, or Persian Pilgrim route, to Ha'il (Route
No. 3).
Supplies. The route is possible for camel transport. Water is
obtainable except for four stages between Qasr Bir Shaghrah and
Bir Arkamiyah, and for two stages between Bir Unsab and Bir
Umm 'Amarah. Fuel and fodder are plentiful, especially between
Bir Arkamiyah and Bir Beleghbiyah, though in summer the fodder
is parched. General supplies are only obtainable at Suq esh-Shuyukh
and at Ha'il.,