"كتيّب الجزيرة العربية. مجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎٣] (٥٤٢/٣٧)

EASTERN ROUTES (Nos. 8-14) 33
After leaving the coastal tracts and the oases, Route No. 11, from
Oqair, or Qatif, to Riyadh, resembles in its essential features Route
JNIo. 10, crossing the two waterless deserts of Summan and Dahanah *
it passes no places with settled inhabitants between Hofuf and
Nejd. As has been already stated, attacks may sometimes be
expected from Bedouins ('Ajman, Ahl Murrah, Beni Haiar, and
JJawasir), who also camp in the neighbourhood of the wells at
Ajafiyah. The country near Hofuf is reputed to be unsafe, and
caravans between that town and the coast go armed.
Supplies. At Hofuf and Qatif, grain, rice, sugar, fruits, and qhi
m small quantities ; nothing between these places and Riyadh.
Water cannot be obtained in the Summan and Dahanah zones and
it ^ necessary to carry a five days' supply. The wells to the E. of
the desert area, Judah and 'Aweisah, are described as yielding water
m abundance. The same is the case with Abu Jifan on the W. side ;
but the supply at Ajafiyah is not always ample, and the pools at
Jalta Sadeiri are said to be at times exhausted. Between the W.
an(i Riyadh' th 6 wells on the main route at Tarabi and
Miyahiyah afford a regular supply. On the section Qatif-Hofuf,
water is sufficient, but not of good quality. Between 'Oqair and
Hofuf there is no scarcity by the longer route, except at Shatar ;
on the direct route followed by Raunkiaer there are no wells. Fuel
and fodder are scanty in the desert zones, and between the Hasa
oasis and Wadi Faruq.
(iii) Linking Coastal Routes
The two preceding groups of routes are linked up by tracks from
Koweit, which, running parallel to the coast, terminate at Hofuf
and Qatif respectively ; these are described in this subsection.
A third route connects Zobeir with Koweit, an easv track leading
from Basra to the wells of Zobeir, which lie in steppe 10 miles from
the town. From Zobeir there is a choice of two or three tracks
leading over low plateau country, with abundant ground-water at
from 5 to 12 feet below the surface, to the Gulf coast at Khutai
(80 miles). At Umm Qasr, about half-way, is a small outpost station
of the Sultan of Koweit. The first village on the shore with good
water (not salt) is Jahrah, 14 miles farther, where the Sultan of
Koweit keeps an outpost force.
Route No. 12, from Koweit to Hofuf, traverses the Koweit districts
of Adan, Salu , Hazeim, and Sudah, then the Hasa tracts of
Rada'if, Wadi el-Miyah, Habl, and Jauf. The route to Qatif
ARABIA II ^