'Persian Gulf Gazetteer Part II, Geographical and Descriptive Materials, Section III Central Arabia' [‎110v] (225/258)

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rugged; in places rock comes to surface, in places there are flints, in places
sand. It seems to drain a large area of Nefud and to supply wells of Zhery
and Saldk. Wells called Sakik are variously stated to number 2, 4 and 6;
there are 2 close together at the usual watering place; 2 more are 3 or 4
miles distant up and down valley. They have stone parapet, and opening
about 3 feet wide, but diameter increases lower down. They are roughly cut
in rock, except uppermost 20 feet which are built with dry hewn stone. Total
depth is variously stated at from 120 to 225 feet. They stand in a plain of
hard and saline soil. Water never entirely fails and is generally sweet but
Huher at his visit found it fetid. Nomads collect here in large numbers es
pecially in end of summer ; they are Ruwalla, Shammar and ISherarat. The
wells are reckoned 12 to 14 hours from Jauf.
SHAKIK ( WADI A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. ) (2).—Valley about 12 miles long which, running
from south-west to north-east, loses itself in the hollow containing the wells
of Haserah. There is brushw T ood for fuel and water remains in hollows of
the rock for a month after rain. What is the relation between Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Hail and
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sekik? Both come from the same direction and end in the Haserah de
pression ? Huber appears to distinguish them in his written account and to
confound them in his map.
SHAMMAR.—Tribe. (1) Kahtanic or Yemeni tribe but regarded by
Doughty as of mixed descent. They were one of latest to emigrate from Yemen
and obtained their present territory by expelling the tribes of Tai and Keis
towards Mesopotamia. (2) Their principal divisions according to Wallin are
Abieh and Jaafar, the Slieikhs belonging to former of these. Wallin also
mentions branches called Suweid (famed for their excellent butter), Sinjareh,
Aslam, Tooman and Armal. The Shammar of Teima are divided into Ali and
Hamdeh. {Subdivisions called Abtah (Abdeh above?) and Tuman camp about
Trobah. Ross gives subdivisions as Saleylat, Singhiara, Esslem, Abdel and
Dagheret and Iluber also shows Singary (Singhiara ?) in his map about Umm-el-
Kulban and mentions Siujariah (probably the same) to east of wells of Abbassiah.
Guarmani mentions a Tuala section; and Doughty one called Kuruniyah, inhabit
ing a village called Aleyi in Aaredh in Nejd. (3) Only estimate of numbers
is Doughty's of hardly 2 ,000 souls for Bedouin portion south of Nefud. Sham-
mar arc widely dispersed, large proportion being in Mesopotamia, among these
Zakarit near Kerbela and Sufook. Their principal towns and villages are
Hail, Mukak, Lakita, Jubbeh, Jefeifa, Tuweia, Kena, Wakid, Bedan, VVasita,
Akda, Lezram, Henakieh andTeyma; and between Hail and Misma on the west
only Shammar Bedouins are found. Their western diras are full of basaltic and
grey-red granite hills and, having many water-holes, the Shammar Bedouins live
more dispersed than those of some other tribes. Their north-east border with
Aneyza is 90 miles south of Najaf. (4) Wallin describes them as one of
the most vigorous and youthful tribes of Arabia. The men are generally tall
and wear brown abbas. In face they are distinct from the Anezah. They regard
themselves as, and in Huber's opinion are, the noblest of the Arabia. They are
hospitable. (5) (6) Tribe is partly nomad and partly settled in town and vil
lages. Individuals constantly emigrate, always in direction of Baghdad. In
tents of Shammar Bedouins wife's apartment is on (? proper) left. (7) (8) (9)
They do not follow custom of some tribes who erect cross, covered with red
clotn, at door of tent where circumcision is taking place. (10) (11) (12)
There is a natural hostility between Shammar and Anezah and, in particular,
no love lost between Shammar and Bishr.
SHAMMAR (JEBEL).—Great principality of North Central Arabia,
named from the mountain ranges of Ajja and Selma and from the dominant
4ribe inhabiting their neighbourhood. (1) f lhe boundaries of the Sham-
mar state are liable to fluctuation but are, roughly, as follow: on the north
the Ruwalla, Northern Shammar and Thuffir(Dafir ?) marches (these tribes are
not subject to Hail) ; on south-east, dominions of Boreyda (last place in
Jebel Shammar in this direction is Kehafa) ; on south-west a point about 100
miles from Medina (Kheybar is excluded); on west Syrian pilgrim route and
further limit of Sherarat country between Jebel Sherra and Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sirhan.
Doughty makes extent of country 90 leagues north and south and 170 leagues