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'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. II' [‎1389] (450/688)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (341 folios). It was created in 1917. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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'OMAN PROPER
Hills, —Jabal-al-Kor is a range 20 miles in length, which runs nearly north and south
and has peaks about 7,000 feet high. At either extremity it is crossed by a compara
tively low pass, on the north by that over the Najd-al-Barak, a col 3,700 feet high which
connects it with Jabal Akhdhar; on the south by a pass over the Najd-al-Makhar:m,
2,500 feet high, at the point where Jabal Hamrah joins on to Jabal-al-Kor. Both passes
are practicable for camels, but the descent from Najd-al-Makharim on the eastern side
lies down a rocky torrent-bed and is not easy for loaded animals. Jabal Hamrah appears
to run south-eastwards from Najd-al-Makharim, but its direction and extent have not
been investigated by any European traveller; this range is of a terra-cotta colour and
may possibly differ in geological structure, as it does in appearance, both from Jabal-al-
Kor and Jabal Akhdhar.
Valleys. —'Oman Proper possesses two main channels of drainage, Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Kalbu, and
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Halfain, both of which traverse it from north to south, the former from Nizwa near
its centre, the latter from Izki at its eastern extremity. The western part of the district
appears to be drained by various Wadis from Jabal-al-Kor which join Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Kalbu on
its right bank ; one of the principal of these is the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. on which Bahlah stands, formed
by the junction of Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Ghol from Najd-al-Barak and a more southern wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. called
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Shams, or Shamah. Another is Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Saifam containing a village of the same
name; it runs south-eastwards from the neighbourhood of Najd-al-Barak, and joins
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Kalbu. The subsequent course of Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Kalbu is uncertain ; but it is believed
to fall into Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Halfain in the desert.
General configuration, etc. —The surface of 'Oman Proper outside the oases is rough
and broken. The central portion, which contains the towns of Bahlah, Nizwa, and Izki
but not Manah, is called the Jauf, that is the hollow or basin ; it is a stony plain thickly
dotted with small volcanic hills and mounds, some of conical shape. The northern part
of it in particular, under Jabal Akhdhar, is very barren and is seamed with dry water
courses. A wide and level surface with a gentle declivity to the south separates Izki
from Manah, and between Manah and Adam again is a smooth, gently descending ex
panse, uninhabited, but sprinkled with dwarf mimosa and bunches of desert grass and
containing bustard, partidges, sandgrouse, gazelle and hares. Looking to the south and
east from Adam neither hill nor habitation meets the eye, and the line of the horizon is
unbroken as the sea; to the north, in the distance, the grand pile of Jabal Akhdhar
towers into the sky. At many places in 'Oman Proper the springs are hot, their tem
perature ranging from 102 to 112° F.
Topography. —The following alphabetical table of inhabited places will give an idea of
the fixed population and resources of 'Oman Proper;—
Town
Houses
or
Position.
and
Remarks.
village.
inhabitants.
Adam
See'article Adam.
Aqll ..
6 hours from Izki,
80 houses of 'Awa-
There are two towers.
probably south
wards.
mir.
Animals are 40 camels,
12 donkeys, 20 cattle
and 100 sheep and goats.
Date palms number 2,000.
'Awamir (Qal'at-
2 hours from 'Aqil
70 houses of 'Awa-
One of a group of 'Awamir
al-)
mir.
villages in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Halfain
known as Falaj-al-'Awamir.
Dates and wheat are cul
tivated in all the villages
of the group. At this vil
lage there is a fort held by
the 'Awamir; there are
5 camels, 10 donkeys, 30
cattle and 60 sheep and
goats. Date palms num
ber 3,000.

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Content

Volume II of III of the Gazetteer of Arabia. The Gazetteer is alphabetically-arranged and this volume contains entries K through to R.

The Gazetteer is an alphabetically-arranged compendium of the tribes, clans and geographical features (including towns, villages, lakes, mountains and wells) of Arabia that is contained within three seperate bound volumes. The entries range from short descriptions of one or two sentences to longer entries of several pages for places such as Iraq and Yemen.

A brief introduction states that the gazetteer was originally intended to deal with the whole of Arabia, "south of a line drawn from the head of the Gulf of 'Aqabah, through Ma'an, to Abu Kamal on the Euphrates, and to include Baghdad and Basrah Wilayats" and notes that before the gazetteer could be completed its publication was postponed and that therefore the three volumes that now form this file simply contain "as much of the MSS. [manuscript] as was ready at the time". It further notes that the contents have not been checked.

Extent and format
1 volume (341 folios)
Physical characteristics

Foliation: This volume's foliation system is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. II' [‎1389] (450/688), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/16/2/2, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023727634.0x000031> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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