'Arabia. Handbooks prepared under the direction of the Historical Section of the Foreign Office - no 90' [‎79] (94/148)

AGRICULTURE
79
Goats. Large numbers of goats are reared in
Oman, where they are often preferred to sheep, being
more suited to the rocky nature of the country. In
the Hadhramaut they are found wild. In the north
they form a less important part of the great flocks of
the Beduins, and are most numerous in the Belka
districts; in the uplands of the Jordan valley their
browsing has the effect of keeping down the growth
of young trees. In the Hamad the poorer Beduin
will roam the steppes dependent solely upon his camel
and a little flock of goats. Goats can be reared even
in the more barren districts, because they nourish
themselves in winter on mimosas and acacias, which
would not support sheep. Their milk, flesb, and
hair are almost the only sources of livelihood of their
half-starved owners. Statistics of their numbers are
not available, and they are not exported. Ghi or semn
{see p. 103) is made from their milk, and clothing and
tents from their hair. Their skins form a valuable
export.
Horses. These are of two kinds, the Kadishi, used
for rough work, and the Kohlani, the famous
thoroughbreds. The latter are small, but symmetri
cal and hardy. They are very valuable, both for
riding purposes and for the improvement of other
breeds. They are carefully reared in Nejd by the
Shahran tribes and exported to Mesopotamia, Persia,
India, &c. For transport they are not much used, as
food and water have to be conveyed for them. In
Nejd they are fed on dates and water, camel s milk,
and desert herbs. Winter is the best time for buy
ing. In the Hadhramaut, Oman, and the Hasa horses
are very scarce.
Mules are also reared, and are very serviceable.
They are sometimes yoked to well-machines and used
to raise water from a great depth. From El-Katr
and the Batina mules are exported to Persia.
Sheep. Wherever in Arabia there is pasturage,
there sheep are found, but in the Nejd their breeding
is less important than that of horses and camels, and