'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. II' [‎1149] (198/688)

majab-as-saghlr
1149
from the east, are named Khazainah and Al-Hamish, Jifjafah, Jafijafat ( a barren tract)
Tel Dukhn and Harair.
(а) Khazainah and Al-Hamish. —These lands form a peninsula jutting out from the
desert Jazirah between the Hor Gassat-ash-Sharqi on the north and the big
Bitairah Hor on the south, with the Bitairah in the east.
(б) Jifjafah. —A strip about 13 miles long and varying in breadth from J to | of a mile
stretching along the shore of the Gassat-ash-Sharqi to the west of Khazainah-
Wheats barley and millet are grown.
(e) Tel Dukhn. —A large stretch of arable land 8 miles by 3 miles bordering on
Hor Ataifiyah. It contains a series of mounds of ancient bricks and pottery,
and several sweet- welK Very fertile but the greater f art of it is flooded by
the breaking of dykes every second or third year, and when this happens the
cultivation of it is abandoned, and Harair, the tract beyond it, is cultivated
instead.
(d) Harair lies immediately to the north-west of Tel Dukhn, but contains
higher ground.
Sadraniyah and Baghailat Muqata 1 ahs.
These two are separated from Harair, the most westerly of the Jazirah lands, by a
stretch of desert about 20 miles across which in February 1916 contained several large
lakes of rain water, known as mughaddarat.
Baghailat is about 6 square miles in area, and Sadramiyah about 3. They lie side by
side on the southern or left hand shore of the Dujailay stream. Devoted to wheat and
barley only.
The Shaihaniyah Muqatdah.
(Again a purely official name) comprises the lands of Bidat Saiyyah, tTmin Atna,
Shaiyah and Thabi, bordering the Dujailah stream between Sadraniyah and its mouth at
the Mudalil canal, and are bounded by the Dujailah on the north and the Khor Ataifiyah
on the south-east. Kather swampy, so that wheat and barley is precarious. Good
grazing for sheep.
Kumait Muqata 1 ah*.
This is the home farm of the Albu Darraj Shaikh. Boundaries—South-west Thabi,
and Thabi canal. North-east by Najm's muqata'ah of Gassat-al-Gharbi, North-west
by Midaihl canal, having the Kumait river flowing through its midst, and the Hor
Ataifiyah on the south-east at its back. The fort of the Shaikh lies on the left or north
east bank of the Kumait river.
The Ouiba lands {Bani Lam Muqata:ah) of Ali Gharbi.
The Gutba lands lie on the right or north-west shore of the Dujailah river, and are part
of the Bani Lam Muqata'ah of 'Ali Gharbi.
• •■■•4 Old Nahr Alchdhar in the Jazirah Desert.
All along the edges of Jazrah stretches a line of mounds, the remains of cities formerly
grouped on the lands of the ancient Nahr Akhdhar or Green Canal, which took off from the
Dujailah (believed to have them been the main Tigris stream).
Notes on the Bitairah and Dujailah.
Its length before entering the Hor is not more than 8 miles. The Hor varies in depth
but the greater part is not more than 1 foot. It is said that Mahailahs can never use the
Hor except in very high floods.
The Dujailah.
From Sadraniyah to the Tigris a fine stream, but not at present (February, 191G)
deep enough for anything larger than a large Mashhuf. The banks are covered with
excellent brushwood.
Navigation of the Bitairah, (9th February 1916).
Keep towards right bank—
From mouth to 1 mile more than 9 feet.
At 1 mile small island, take right hand channel, depth feet.
Keep towards left bank—
At 1J mile Khare stream takes off on right.
From 1J- to 2 miles, more than 9 feet.
At 2 miles, 9 feet.
At 2 miles, ^ furlong, 6 feet. 2nd Khare stream takes off on right.