'دليل الخليج، الجزء الثاني، مواد جغرافية ووصفية، القسم الثاني، الجانب الغربي من الخليج' [ظ‎‎٩‎١] (٢٨٦/١٨٥)

42
other entirely Kurdish, commanded by a Kurd chief who drew all the pay and
found 100 men and horses. Pay of Dhabitia infantry was Rs. 16 a month
and of cavalry Es. 30, Government supplying only Snider rifle and uni
form. There were 50 mounted and 30 foot Dhabitias at Katif, 20 mounted in
Katar and r 0 foot atOjair; rest were at head-quarters (Douglas). Accord
ing to Zwemer (1900) there are only 600 troops at Hofhuf and 3u0 in Katar
and Katif. The divisions according to this authority are the " cazas " of Neid
Katar and Katif and the three together compose the " sandjak " of Hasa : the
Mutasarrif resides at Hofliuf, and Katar and Katif have separate Wmmakams.
There are the usual Turkish tribunals and each Arab tribe has its represen
tative with the Governor. Turkish report mentions three schools and 3 510
pupils. *
HAS A (PROPER).—Fertile oasis or strip of country about -iO miles inland
from the coast, forming one of the 3 districts of the Turkish administrative divi-
sion of Hasa. (1) Boundary on west is a long white range of cra^ey hills whieh
separates it from sandy wastes of the Dahna. On the east is a similar ran^e of
no great height which, with sandy desert, divides it from coast and district of
■11 • i * 110 d w ' n dl e away and are succeeded by barren tract of firm
soil vvhich forms north extremity of district. Southwards aiso the hills dism-
pear, Arabian desert approaches sea and boundary in this direction may be locat
ed about 20 miles south of Hofhuf. (2) It is divided into the MudirliW
Ojair, Jafar, Uofhuf and Mubarraz. (3) Distrh t consists of plain, perhans not
much more than 100 feet above sea level; cultivated portion is about 15 miles
ong by 12 bioad with some 30 fixed villages, all surrounded by high walls in
bad repair. Country is level except for some sandhills and limestone ri lV,!
^ " re scattered about it; latter are low and fantasticallv cavernous Pellv
makes the oasis 20 to 30 miles long and 12 broad. General aspect of' bi™! i'l
sandy and so, is light often intermixed with powdered m£e andt1e
A line rem Ojair to Hofhuf runs for first 28 miles over loose unde nt
were occasional pools in hollows Tn n d oil n ttna ^ s an ^ there
o ^ri ^fn^trslur w a ^
~are 0n mo^^ Lf hf S £
and townships arc bidden in date groves an ^ArTens Tl ' e Vi i llageS
nmg streams abound and there arp f , * , co «^es and run-
and Mubarraz nearlv the whole sn^e s fir? li ; keS - 13etlvee " Hof h"f
rushing streams of tepid water ' the road .-71 ? ar f ens • P'-antations and
irrigation on both sides. Barren salt .ItJ? , rai f d causeway with deep
and there. (4) (5) Por clinrite n 1 . ar I-' 1 ponds occur arln'tranly here
Pelly 1865 as the richest anTm! f r0U ■ S f Hasa '. above - ( 6 ) Described by
cultivated portion of the Wahabf domi^^ 1 the most widely
value, especially the ^ ^ 0f 0383 are of
quantities and there is abundnnfZnf J ^ are ^ rown in small
but for grain the district is lareelv f^ SS ? + very .» ood lucerne for fodder;
to Pal grave the date predomimtpJ V P end ent on importation. According
cultivated but not in sufficient ou^mi f grow; indigo is
cotton, rice, sugar-cane, maize millet vpfnl me ^- tiie loCal deman d ;
beans are produced; but he never saw or 7 ra( ? S ' oriions > garlic and
barley and rice are cultivated and thnf fl 0 f bar1 ?^ Sadlier says wheat,
is carefully pruned to obtain roofint Lf • gr0WS xer y
fruits and vegetables, describing thf ? ] f ? e conden ins all the
figs as very hard and drv and the n 1 apricot , S and melons as ^ad, the
and not of onions. Cattle are in fair mm ] as the shape of carrots
donkeys are plentiful ; and sheen ' r-m i m 3ei! i', 0 l Je r s ian and common
. ana sheep, camels and horses are easily obtainable