'Routes in Arabia' [‎429] (462/852)

429
Route No. 113— could.
becomes less abrupt. The cultivated Wiidi Sh'ab branchea at
right angles to the left bank behind a palm grove. At mile 4,
high hills close in on either side, still, however, leaving a strip of
cultivation, and at mile 4 J, the stream Ghail Maula again ap
pears in the wddi, being led off to the fields below this. A small
hamlet—Hajat Ma'fa—is on the right bank. Up to this point
general direction north-west, hence on, north. For another
| mile, to mile 5, there is a defile narrowing to 80 yards between
high steep hills ; a strip of high reeds and tamarisk on either
«de. The small villages of Humara and Sharj Atai are passed on
the right and left banks respectively. At about mile 5| the
ravine, Sh'ab Tashiya, joins the right bank almost opposite a
watch-tower formerly built by the Sultan of Lahaj. At mile 6
Maula, a village of 20 houses, inhabited by Sayids, is passed on
the right bank and opposite is the small village of Auja. Here
the Turkish boundary is crossed.
From this point the valley opens out, containing cultivation
and palm-groves. Several fair-sized Athwari and Shajaifi villages
(Turkish), notably Anashi, are passed on the left bank below the
high hill of Husn Mafalis. Mafalis itself is reached at about mile
7 on the right bank. A village of same 20 houses with the white
ddr of the Athwari Shaikh conspicuous above it. The customs
post is a small ddr in the vicinity. There are no regular troops
normally. Ghail Dabab, which rises above, furnishes Mafalis
with a plentiful supply of good water. The surrounding country
is cultivated and the fertile hills to the north must provide abun
dant supplies.
Some 600 transport camels were stationed for nearly two
months in the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Ma'din; no difficulty was experienced in
supplying them with karbi, while the camel-men and others
dependent on native supplies were able to obtain all they
required at very reasonable rates.
Baggage camels are owned by the Jurabi as also by the
Wahasha tribes, lower down the wddi, but they are not
numerous.
6 HIRWA .. 13 m. The track runs north-
west up the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
73|m. Ma'din, passing As-
Sarifi about mile 3 where the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. turns west. At about mile 5
the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. bifurcates, one branch turning north to the Naqil