'Routes in Arabia' [‎672] (703/852)

672
R oute N o . 185— contd.
where I camped. This plain is known as Shergut, distinct from
the fort of Shergut, which is about 5 miles further south. Sheep
grazing on this plain, 200 : some nomad Arabs up the valley on
the right.
4 'AIN SHABABIT .. 5 m. Short march owing
to heavy rain. Leave
m * Shergut, direction
south by west, road good but sandy, along alluvial plain skirting
hill (100 feet high) on right, 200 to 300 yards off. At 2 miles
meet hills on right: on left river 1 mile off. At 4 miles up to
the point skirt low hills on right but without crossing them,
but now cross a very low spur and enter open plain 1 mile long
by i mile wide, at end of this plain cross a small nullah 20 feet
wide by 5 feet deep (a little rain water) and then turn half-right
into hills. Rain water here in pools : soil sandy, camp good, water
fair, but limited, enough for 12 horses and 50 men, 100 sheep
grazing.
5 SHAR AMIYAH 38 m. Shergut fort (so-
called) is on the
103 m. i e f^ f ron ^ 0 f cam p .
it is a ruined fort about miles from 'Ain Shababit and com-
mands the river at this point. It is on the site of a large mound,
which is apparently the remains of a ruined city. Leaving 'Ain
Shababit the road goes nearly south with a little west in it,
and immediately enters low hills 60 to 100 feet high: the road
is good and sandy; it winds through these low hills for 2 miles,
when the summit is reached : near the top it is difficult for guns
and apparently no detour possible. When the summit is reached
the road is flat and good ; sandy; it passes along the reverse slope
of these lulls (Jebel Chanuka in Kiepert's map) ; the slope is
gentle, gradually descending diagonally till the valley at the
bottom is reached : it then crosses this valley almost at right
ang os. The further half of the valley contains several deep
and steep nullahs, average about 50 feet deep and 100 feet wide.
As the road ascends the opposite slope the ground is raviney.
road wind8 "P and down these ravines till 11 miles, when the
summit is reached ; during the ascent the road is rocky for about
i mile8 P assm g over outcrops of marble. The "road keeps
filong the top of these hills, the country being raviney and
broken on bqtb sides. This range (which is called Jabal Hamrin