'Routes in Arabia' [‎64] (97/852)

64
Route No. 18—cowfc?.
the dale grove was a post garrisoned by 10 zaptiehs (1911). One
lo/f 1 't f ?e dOLlin haIting place with we]ls ^ fair
atcr ^ feet - Jabal Sanam stands 5 miles west of the village.
"J 6 6RAFIDHIYAH .. 14 m. General direction,
gi slightly east of north,
/i . i ' , , route runs over
flat, barren, stony ground, passable for all arms. It skirts the
flood level ^ Kh01 Zubai^, aRd is aboVe the ordinary
At mile 14, Rafidhsyah, a country residence of the Naqlb of
Basrah ; it is a quadrangular enclosure with bastions at the
north and south angles. Water is abundant from 3 wells 12 feet
deep. There are a few trees. There are more wells, and some
cultivation, on the north-east side of Rafidhiyah.
7 BASR h H .. 16 m. General direction,
north-east by east.
m " r . . , The route at first
runs north over a plam with a very slight ascent. The soil is
graveUy. There is fair camel grazing and occasional houses
Wh0je of th e country between
Rafidhiyah and mile 6 is plentifully supplied with water from
wells o to b feet deep ; they are especially numerous about mile 4
Irom mue 3 to 6 there is scattered cultivation, of rice, maize
lucerne, and dates, the plots being surrounded by tamarisk:
g K 0W + th ; Jr^ 8 ^ iS CaI 1 led and the population is
about 6,000. There are large numbers of buffaloes, cows and
sheep. . .
At mile 8, site of old Basrah; and 3 miles off the track in
a direction south-west by west, is Zlibair, a well -bu It town
situated on slightly elevated ground with a ridge of broken ground'
to the north.west, north, and north-east. Small quantities of
supplies, a bazar, no fodder, 4 or 5 wells of good water In the
time of the. Euphrates flood a water channel, which approaches
the northern end of the town of Zubair, from the direction of
Basrah, contains 2 feet of water.
The route turns north-east. It then crosses an open barren
plain. The soil is light brown, hard, and dusty ; it is free from
stones. From mile 6 to mile 10 the route runs in a depression
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