Potter and Wellington note that between Najran and this first trail branch to the east, Lehi's family would have encountered a number of wells. The first well was Bi'r Khadra, about 15 miles out of Najran, the second at Al Muyayan another 30 miles further on. Sayh well was another 30 miles after that and then finally two wells came in rapid succession: Qurra about 20 miles after Sayh and bi'r Al Mahashimah, which marked the break where the trail headed to the east. (see illustration below) However, of all the branches heading east, this was the only place where there was no city at the junction point, and according to Groom, the next well on this eastern trail was at Mushayniqah some 60 miles across the edge of the rub'al Khali. Furthermore, after leaving Najran, one had to travel over 140 miles in order to reach the next fertile area (the settlements of wadi Jawf to the south). According to the TPC maps there are no areas of cultivation marked between the two oases. Thus there are indeed possibilities for Lehi's family to have "suffered much affliction, hunger, thirst and fatigue" (1 Nephi 16:35) during this part of the journey, especially if hunting proved unprofitable as the terrain would seem to dictate. But how and why did this suffering take place. [George Potter and Richard Wellington, Discovering the Lehi-Nephi Trail, Unpublished Manuscript, 2000, pp. 150-151]
1 Nephi 16:35 We Have Suffered Much Affliction, Hunger, Thirst and Fatigue ([Illustration]--Potter Theory): The towering dunes of the Rub' al Khali, or Empty Quarter, sap the strength of the traveler who faces the full force of the sun. [George Potter and Richard Wellington, Discovering the Lehi-Nephi Trail, Unpublished Manuscript, 2000, p. 162]