'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎112] (154/733)

40
112
route from oj.mr to iioofoof.
Distance.
Jlilesi Furls.
12' 0
Remarks.
1 rom the W ater-pits to the Munzil; time two and a half hours —The
giound gradually becomes more level, and at the end of the march
a range of „ w hiil. r u„ ning and are ^ ;
the nigh t° the MUn^i '■ 0r for
Second Day's Mavch,
From the Munzil to Jishah; time four hours.-Shortly after leaving eur
encampment, descended into an extensive desert plain. Ground hard
and firm ; small hillocks on the right at some distance. After proceeding
ahout six miles, the soil becomes more sandy, but is quite firm, and the
load winds between hillocks of sand, which command it. Hence for
about three miles further several small ascents occur, over very deep sand,
rhe plain of Lahsa, with its date trees, now first seen. Three miles
further, pass the village of Jishah, on the right, close to the road. It is
encompassed by a wall of about 250 yards square, seven or eight feet
■g . "ith small towers at intervals. Between Ojair and Jishah
eieaieno habitations, and of course supplies of any kind are not
procurable.
From Jishah to Foozool; time an hour and a half.—About half a mile
beyond Jishah, pass the village of Jufoor on the left. Same descrip
tion, but larger than Jishah. Now enter the date groves, which con.
inue tor one or two miles, whence you again debouch into open coun
try, leaving Foozool on your left. The roads through the date groves
are narrow, but very good; they have watercourses on either side.
icse courses are in many places connected by cuts across the road over
which small bridges of date sticks are thrown, but sometimes so narrow
that artillery could not pass over them. Indeed most formidable im
pediments might be raised to the passage of artillery, by cutting down
the date trees, and laying them across the road, and by trenching the
road, and connecting the watercourses. I was informed that by mak
ing a detour these groves might be avoided, butlhad not an opportunity
of surveying the country. Foozool is of the same description as Jishah
and Jufoor, but larger than either. The houses are built of stone and
clay, and have fiat mud roofs.
Foozool to Iioofoof; time one hour.—A short way beyond Foozool are
small watch-towers, close to the road, at intervals of four or five
mndred yards from each other. They extend to the walls of iioofoof.
1 hey are intended for the protection of the date groves, and are capable
or containing fifteen or twenty men.