"دليل الجزيرة العربية المجلد II" [‎١‎٥‎٦‎٣] (٦٨٨/٦٤٢)

RAT—RAU
1563
Associated with Rass are three places named Ruwaidhah, Rafi'ah, and Shinanah.
Of these, the first and largest is said to be a walled village ; the second, which is perhaps
Rass proper, a village with a high watch tower rising above the palms ; a d the third,
a village, the smallest of the three. Some authorities hold that these places are depend
ent villages of the Rass oasis ; others, that they are merely separate quarters. Accord
ing to one report, Ruwaidhah is 10 miles north-west by west from Rass and separated
from it by Wadi-ar-Rummah. One authority places Shinanah 5 miles south-west of
the centre of Rass ; another makes it H miles to the north-west and nearer to Wadi-ar-
Rummah, but both these reports agree that it is south of that great watercourse. It is
said to have been unoccupied since the fighting in these parts, in 1904, between Ibn
Sa'ud on the one side and lb a Rashid and the Turks on the other, and the cultivators are
said to have moved to in Rass proper. The total population of Rass has been estimated
at 3,000 souls and the place is regarded as belonging mainly to the 'Anazah and 'Ataibah
tribes. The oasis is girdled, except on the east, by date groves and orchards, but the
major portion of these is said to have been destroyd by Ibn Rashid before his defeat in
1904.
Rass possesses much arable land in the bed of Wadi-ar-Rummah ; water is good and
abundant at 6 to 7 fathoms below the surface. Several outlying granges also, where
corn is grown, are associated with Rass. Rass lies on the route between Kuwait and
Mecca and is consequently in the path of many caravans ; supplies are plentiful and many
of the inhabitants live by the carrying trade. The place is usually subordinate to the
Amir of Buraidah : the local Shaikh is said to be one of the 'Ataibah.
Unfortunately Forster Sadlier left no description of the place ; he merely states that
he was " a reluctant witness of the devastations of the Pasha's army as far as the ruins
of Rus (sic)."
RATAWI—
A station on the Basrah-Nasiriyah line ; it is 46 miles from Basrah (Makina) by rail
and about 50 by road. There is no village here, only a camping ground. Bellums carry
ing 4 taghars (say 20 maunds) can be unloaded on the island feature north of Ratawi,
but when the river is in flood the low-lying land between Ratawi and the island
would have to be crossed by a cause-way. Brushwood is available in small quantities,
and there is grazing, for camels only, round the camping ground.
RATAWI—
One of the minor valleys descending from the east side of Jabal 'Aja iq-v.), in Najd
RATAWlYAH—
One of the minor valleys descending from the east side of Jabal 'Aja {q.v.), in Najd.
This valley is apparently distinct from that of Ratawi.
RAT-HAH—
A fishing hamlet in southern Hejaz, between Lith and Rakah iq.v.).
RATK (ar)—
A low ridge in north-eastern Arabia ; it is situated about 35 miles by road south-
westward from Basrah and marks the beginning of the Batin depression.
RATL (R as-ar)—
A cape on the Hadhramaut coast of southern Arabia, situated 5 nautical mileg
eastward from Ras-al-'Asidah, which latter is the eastern point of Ghubbat 'Ain. It
is a round, volcanic promontory of considerable height, with a hollow in the centre.
On each side of the point is a bay suitable for boats. There is a small island about \ of
a mile to the southward of the promontory.
RATTAH—
A village in Wadi Sarrami {q.v.), in the 'Oman Sultanate.
RAUDH—
A village in Qasim {q.v.), central Arabia.
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