'Routes in Arabia' [‎102] (135/852)

102
ROUTE No. 30.
F rom HOFIIF to RIYADH
200 miles. 10 stages.
Authorities. —B. Raunkiaer, March and April 1912.
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Gazetteer, 1908.
Epitome.
General Description. —A somewhat troublesome desert route
the general direction of which is a little to the south of west by
south. After emerging from the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Faruq at the beginning
of stage 3, the route crosses the desolate Summan tract during
the remainder of that stage ; and for the next two days it
undulates over the sandy ridges of the even more inhospitable
Dahanah desert. The country then becomes _ a barren plain
which continues until the milder district of 'Aridh is entered.
Pilgrims from Qatar and the Hasa Oasis when going to
Mecca generally follow this route as ffir as Riyadh. They
start from Hofuf about the 8th of Dhil Qa'dah, and take 2.1
days to reach Mecca, some of the shorter stages being com
bined and occasional halts made elsewhere.
Water. —There is no water between Hofuf and stage 7, and
sufficient must therefore be taken from Hofuf to last till Abu
Jifan is reached, a distance of 137 miles. From here to
Riyadh water is plentiful.
Fuel. —Very scarce to stage 7, except perhaps in the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
Faruq, where desert bushes are obtained. Fairly abundant
at stages 8 and 9, and at Riyadh.
Fodder. —Sufficient throughout stage 1, after which it is
very scarce indeed, except after rain, to the western edge of
the Dahanah desert. From there on to Riyadh there is a
sufficiency, and in patches, almost an abundance.
A o. of stage
and total Details,
distance. 1
See Route No. 29.
.. 31 m. West by south, over
a gradually rising desert.
HOFUF
2 FARUQ
31 m.