'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. II' [‎1067] (104/688)

KIH-KIL
106?
Genera? Description*—Tan town lies in a plain at the mouth of a gorge in a low nd g
(300-400 feet high) to the north, through which the Chechepan Su (Kifri Su) emerges.
The river on the right bank of which Kifri stands, is unbndged. A cultivated treeless
plain extends for a few miles to the south and east for about 10 miles to north-west.
The hill of Bawa Shah Suwar, to the north of Kifri, commands an excellent view of the
town. There are a shrine and a cemetery on it. The town is surrounded by a mu w
in poor repair. The houses are of stone and mud, with flat roofs ; a few on the sout
are built of lime and gypsum from the hills close hy. There m a stoue Khau on the
north, outside the town, and a new Khan on the east with upper rooms. It is 40-55
yards, with stabling for 150 horses, and of rough stone and cement. There is another
Khan, single-storeyed, 30 yards square, and stabling for 50 horses. n-w
Supplies and commerce,— There is a bazaar containing about 80 shops with a fair
amount of supplies (flour, dates, dried fruits). The neighbourhood is said to produce
good wheat, and near the town are gardens with date and fruit trees Sheep andgoats
are plentiful in normal times. The water, which comes from the Kifn bu east of the
town, is abundant and good. There is very good grazing m the neighbourhood of the
town. Fuel is plentiful. In normal times it was estimated that 400 horses
mules might be obtained here. . r + v
The place is described as depending partly on the export 0 ^ w00 ^ p ^ t 1 y
sale of goods imported from Baghdad, partly on agriculture. The ^ asa Jf
lie in the low hills east of the town, the nearest being about f hour fro m the town
newest workings apparently lie at a distance of 1 or 2 miles. e coa is n
quality that it will not burn in an ordinary grate. It is said that three workmen ca
excavate about 30 cwt. or 20 donkey-loads daily, and the coal is sold in Kiln a i
Baii Piastres per donkey -load {'Hd. aewt.). r a
Inhabitants.—The inhabitants are mostly Kurds, though there are a few Arabs a
Jews. The town lies in the country of the Jaf Kurds, whose power recently been
much reduced by the Turkish Government, though they are stiU a co^^erable ^.
They inhabit both sides of the frontier and live a semi-nomadic hfe, moving between
the hills and the plains. The Turkish Jaf claim that, though they are the less numer
section, they number 3,000 mounted men: this is probably an exaggeration. ^
In the country towards Khaniqin live the Bajalan Kurds ( 1 n ( is) ant ■
bad Kurds (270 riders). The Hamawand Kurds at least as late as 1910 were a ser
danger on the roads in the neighbourhood, and in spite of measure taken against them
in recent years may possibly still cause trouble. , , , i rw
Administration.—The Turkish Governn ent was represented here by a Qaimmaqam,
and in those days there was a post of inf. ntry mounted on mules.
KIHAILAH—
Some wells in Jabal Sbammar (9, v.),
KIHLAH—
Some wells in Jabal Shammar {q. v.).
KILAB-—
See Southern Shammar tribe, Sinjarah division.
KILAB (N a hk A bul)—
A creek of the Shatt-al-'Arab (j. v.); left bank between Qurnah village and Basrah.
KILABAH (Al)— -
A sub-section of the Bani Hajir {q. v.) tribe of eastern Arabia belonging to the Al
Muhammad section.
KILABIXAH—
A section of the Na'im tribe {q. v.) of 'Oman.
KTLAL— » • t, u 1
A group of huts in the Umm-al-Gharab tract on the Shatt-al-'Arab (?. v.), right ban
Muhammarah to Fao.
0x2