'Routes in Arabia' [‎495] (528/852)

495
ROUTE No. 132.
F ROM MECCA TO SANA A.
600 miles. 40 stages.
Authorities and Dates.—3. .L. Burckhardt, August, 1814
(stages 1 and 2); Glaser, 1881 (stages 37 to -10);
Hunter 's Map of Arabia, 1908.
Epitome.
General Description. —This is the Hajj route between the
Yemen and the Haramain. Between stage 2 and stage 37 it has
not been traversed as yet by any European. It appears to lie
mostly through mountainous country, and to be practicable
for camels and donkeyt;.
Walex. —Presumably sufiicicnt for the Hajj caravans.
Fuel and Fodder.—See Water. Both plentiful in the valley
leading from the Yemen plateau.
Supplies. —No information, but considerable quantities of
cereals and fodder, and livestock in fair numbers could prob
ably be collected in the valleys leading from the Yemen
plateau.
No. of stage
and total Details,
distance.
jijEQCA .. /See Rout# No. 146.
1 QAHWAT QURA 1 . 32 m. Route proceeds
about east by south
32 m. along the high road
to Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Muna. Winding, barren valleys with hills on each side
lead to Muna. At m. is a large tank built of stone; it is
filled during the Hajj from the canal which supplies Mecca
with water. At m. 6 the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Muna is entered by a paved
causeway across the valley, near which is a brackish well.
Route passes through the ruins of Muna to open country which
continues to Mazdalifah at mile 1U, a small ruined mosque and
a tank of water, and thence along the Dhub valley. (From
here an alternative road crosses the hills to Alamain.) At m.
12-|- the hills close to a narrow pass called Al-Mazumain, or Al-
Madaik, about U m. long. At m. 14 the chapel and tomb of
Bir Basain is passed. Here the country opens out to the north
and south and the Taif hills arc seen for the first time in their full
height. At mile Id there are two stone structures on each eidf