'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎37] (52/1050)

ADEN
37
The mountain wall of Marais and Shaib extends across the northern horizon till to
the north-east it breaks into the lower ridge of Jabal Awabil, where is the only approach to
the Shaibi country practicable for troops. The crest line then rises to the flat-topped
ridge of Jabal Harir which bounds the view to the east.
Enclosed in this amphitheatre of mountains lies the Dhala plateau.
Its eastern part is broken :by the rocky ridges of the Shairi country which rise to
a high peak at their southern end, while north of them Jabal Akram of the Muflahi (Yafa)
stands conspicuous. , , .. , ,,
Immediately north-east of Dhala town is a mass of rocky hills, which hide from view
the open plain at the head of the Khuraiba pass. Just beyond these hills to the north
stands the commanding isolated hill Jabal Shahad, which overlooks all routes across
the plateau from Dhala, and from the Khuraiba pass, and which was fortified and occupied
by the Turks throughout 1902. x i. i tm .- t > m . xt.
In the plain that lies stretched below, as one looks north from Jabal Dhi 15ait, tne
village of Al-Kabar, on a conical hiJl, is a central object a mile distant.
Half a mile further north is the shrine of W all Shafi, which stands at the eastern foot of
the Kharba ridge : this is a narrow sharp crested ridge which rises 150 to 200 feet above the
plain, and lies across it east and west about J-mile in length. Near its western end, not
far from the foot of Jabal Jahaf, is another abrupt rocky hill on which stands the village of
Looking past the eastern side of Al-Kabar, and about a mile beyond it Al-Jalila is
ieen, on a low ridge which runs north-west from Jabal Shahad.
A mile and a half north of A1 Jalila another isolated hill, Jabal-us-Sauda, similar
in appearance to Jabal Shahad, rises from the middle of the plain. , , , .
Ka'taba is visible on a clear day, the direction being over Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Shafi and the low hills
near Sirafi. Over the western shoulder of Jabal-us-Sauda three towers on a ridge
mark the position of Lakmat-ush-Sh'ub, and still further Al-Ukla may be discerned at
the foot of the Marais hills. 11 _ _
Over the eastern shoulder of Jabal Shahad, Al-Husain, where a weekly Tuesday
market is held, may be seen on a spur which runs west from Jabal Akram.
DJ iq J cl toiow. —The residence of the Amir is called Dar-ul-Haidh. It consists of a small
group of " ddrSy' or stone towers, and stands on the top of a rocky hill.
The town clusters at the northern foot of this hill, and partly up its slopes about 200
feet below. It is compactly built and consists of about 325 houses, most of which are
solidly constructed square stone dcirs, three or four storeys in height; about a quarter
are the less pretentious houses of Jews. The streets are narrow, but irregular and dirty.
On the western side of the town is an open space where the weekly market is held, and
the Jews prepare thread for weaving, and beside it the Jews' quarter and synagogue.
On the eastern side is a smaller open space where skins are dried and cured, and beyond
it another small Jewish quarter.
On the northern side of the town is the principal mosque, with a white topped minaret.
There is also a mosque at a little distance to the north, with a graveyard beside it and
a shrine Wali Muthanna 'Abdul Hamid ; also several outlying " dors " on slight eminences.
Half a mile to the west, on a hill, is a shrine Wali Abu Dar.
The ground right up to the town is terraced for cultivation.
On the southern side of the hill is the village of Habil Dhi Ishar, a suburb of Dhala.
ARKAMI—
At the head of the Ka'luli Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. , is a small valley at the south foot of J. Hawab inhabit
ed by a small clan of about 20 men. There is a tower with a little cultivation near, and
a well in a ravine about a mile to the south, only some 18 inches in diameter, and con
taining, when sieen, about 100 feet of water. It was said by the inhabitants to yield
a good supply. The road from the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bit an to the Haiki valley passes through thia
valley—Wadi Sadair—the passes leading in and out, though not high, have several very
difficult bits for camels.
Both the Ka'luli and the 'Arkami inhabit Buraimi territory. They are independent;
at the present time, of the Buraimi Shaikh.