'Routes in Arabia' [‎670] (701/852)

670
"Route No. 185— contd.
At 12 miles the nullah on the right continues at about 200 yards
from, (and nearly parallel to), the road. It is about 30 feet deep;
but has sloping banks in many places and is easily crossable.
The nullah was dry in most places, but probably holds water
after rain. At 13 miles pass the village of Shoora, on the right at
1J miles. There is drinking water here, but it is a little brackish;
also an enclosed khan of fortifiable kind with some Saniyah
soldiers; this khan has a balakhana on the north side and is
about 60 by 40 yards. The nullah on the right continues and
a little later the road passes through the ruins of an old village.
At 14 miles the nullah on the right seems to disappear. At 16
miles, road skirts edge of circular nullah with steep bank on road
side ; water in nullah clear, but slightly brackish. At 21 miles cross
small nullah, dry and easy. At 22| miles enter large open valley
on the bank of I igris. At 23 miles cross a stream 30 yards wide
and 10 feet deep, water about 20 feet wide and 3 feet deep,
brackish but clear, not good for drinking. At 24 miles reach
bank of 1 igris at Rumanah ; camp on edge of river, which is here
in two streams, the near one about 150 yards wide, the other
invisible; island in middle; village on opposite bank about 2 miles
distant. The water of the Tigris here has a sulphury taste.
Sheep .. .. .. 2,000 ]
Camels ., .. t , 200 /
Goats .. .. .. 300 seen grazingew route,
cows •• •. .. 150 ,
Donkeys.. .. .. 50;
3 SHERGUT .. 21 m. Leave camp on bank
of river in westerly
wj. 11 voi 111 vvcoi^iiy
. m * direction in order to
avoid a naphtha or sulphur stream which flows into the river near
the mound on the right of the camp : after about a mile's turn
ing cross the stream, which is narrow (3 feet wide), and then west
southwards over low hills; road good. After about 2J miles
pass petroleum refinery, 300 yards on left. Small mound about
one mile to the left and enter stinking valley of bitumen and
nap it ha, Avhich are both on the surface here, the naphtha ground
joing like a marsh into which horses sink. This is known as
ayara or the Bitumen valley, and is at right angles to the road
) yarns wide. On leaving the valley the road is very