'Routes in Arabia' [‎124] (157/852)

124
Route No. 34— conoid.
two, and also no villages are passed along it. From Dilam a
route runs slightly west of north to Hair, about 30 miles
passing at mile 5, close to the village of Na'ajan, where there are
25 huts and some cultivation and livestock.
Continuing, from Harlq, in a west-north-westerly direction
up the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Halq, the route runs for 8 hours over hilly ground
along the southern slopes of Jabal 'Alaiyah to the hill of Farai-
ahah ; and thonce for 5 hours across a level plain to Jau-as-Sai-
bani at about mile 65. At about mile 56 the hill known as
Khashm-adh-DhTb, lying on the south side of the route, is pass-
ea. -Jau-as-Saibam is a poor and scattered village consisting
of about 40 houses of slaves. In the cold weather the number
of its inhabitants is sometimes increased by outside cultiva
tors. There are neither dates nor lucerne, but a little wheat,
barle.v, millet, and melons are grown. Water from wells at
24 feet.
From here route turns north-east over hilly ground to Dhru-
mah, which is reached at mile 89. Dhrumah is a village of 300
houses, with a small hdzar ; extensive cultivation of wheat and
barley ; about 30,000 date palms ; millet, fttcerne, melons, and
ordinary fruits are also grown. The wells are from 66 to 108
feet deep; livestock numerous. From Dhrumah routes run
north-west to Barrah, 35 miles ; and east-north-east to Riyadh,
vid the villages of Mizahmiyah and Raudhah, also a journey of
about 35 mdes. The latter route lies over the high portion
of Jabal Tuwaiq known as Abaljid ; the whole journey occu-
pies about 12 hours, of which the end three-fourths are hilly and
difficult. The direct way from Dhrumah to Hair lies over the
more southern and less elevated part of Jabal Tuwaiq called
Maghnfiyah, and the journey is apparently a longer one than
that to Riyadh. Large caravans moving to Hair would, how-
eVe m. ?iT valle y wh ich leads to that place.
„ nnA , T t 0f Mi f ahmi yah contains 100 houses, and some
6,000 date palms ; there are some fruit trees, and a little
grain and lucerne. Water lies at the same level as Dhrumah,
0r w \ U t- I 80 - P ' Rodhah consists of 45 houses, and re-
A miy . Ah eXCept that the date P alms are estimated
at 4,000 and water is at 60 feet. From Dhrumah the route
mn® north-east across hills and valleys to the village of 'Am-
wS a w a J n ! 1 ?i 3 o an . d thenCe down a branch of ^e Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
Hanifah to Malqa, 112 miles.