Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates Vol 2 - The Search For Mecca

278 Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates.
and ravines. Tlie plain, too, lies at an average
height of some hundred feet above the river, and ispossessed
of no water at its own level. Lastly,,
several intricate lines of hills must be cut throusfh.
The latter remarks apply with douljle force to any
more direct route across the desert. In winter,
indeed, there is a line of fresh-water
pools, running
between Damascus and Ana, but these are dependent
for their existence entirely on the autumn
rains, and the rain does not always fall. In summer
they are dry.
A much more serious objection to a desert railw^ay,
would be the impossibility of making practical
use of it, except in the temperate months. I
cannot think that many passengers would choose a
railway journey of a thousand miles under such
a sun as the Hamad boasts, between May and
October. The average maximum daily temperature
in the coolest house in Bagdad during June and
July is 107°, while the thermometer there sometimes,
goes up to 120°, and even 122°. The heat of the
desert would be far greater ; and, unless stations of
refuge were established, in which to pass the heat
of the
day, summer travelling would be impossible
for Europeans. These and the road would have ta
be well guarded, as it
is unlikely the Anazeh would
respect them.
As a commercial scheme it must be considered^
that though tlirough traffic for goods might be
abundant, and through passenger traffic in the