'Routes in Arabia' [‎113] (146/852)

113
R oute 'No. 31— contd.
.it.
The imports are chiefty rice, piece-goods, coffee, sugar and
hardware. The volume of trade is considerable and it has been
estimated that from 200 to 300 loaded camels leave 'Oqair
every week for the interior. The name of this place is usually
pronounced Ojair.
1 BARAIMAN .. 14 m. South-west by south
through the coastal
14 m . strip known as Barr-
al-'Oqair, and thence into Biyadh, Very heavy going over
loose sand.
At mile 8, Suwwad; well of good water.
At mile 10, Umm-adh-Dharr, near which is a group of mounds
constituting a well-known landmark.
At mile 11, Bisaitin ; there is some grazing here, and by dig
ging, sweet water is obtainable.
At Baraiman, 3 brackish wells ; ruins of an old fort ; grass
and camel grazing. No fuel.
2 SHATAR .. 14m. South-west by south
over country similar to
2g m . that in stage 1.
At mile 3, track passes by the well of Zaghaimah.
At Shatar, 3 small wells of brackish water. Here Route
No. 32, Dohah-Hofuf, joins in ; three miles to the north is the well
of Abul Maris. No grazing or fuel.
Four miles to the south are the wells of Muraiqib wher e
Alternatives A and B of Route No. 32 join.
3 JISHSHAH •• 12 m.* West. To mile 4
across a nitrous plain
40 m< fairly clear of sand
called Sabakhat Shatar.
To mile 10, between sandhills.
To the end of the stage across an open stony plain.
. Jishshah, a town of 400 houses, of which the inhabitants
mostly either cultivate dates or own camels.
Good water, grass, fuel, and very limited supplies are obtain
able. The wells are situated near the borders of the Biyadh
district and the llasa Oasis.
♦ Probably about 11 miles.—C. C. R. M.
Q
N