'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎188] (203/1050)

188
AQA-AQD
The Aqarquf mound, which may be seen for a considerable distance from the Bagh
dad-Falluj ah road, and Which is surmounted by ancient ruins, stands on the edge of
the lake and probably covers a city and temple of the Kassite period. These ruins are
sometimes known as 'Aqar Nimrud. Near the mound are gennrally about 100 Arab
tents, with flocks of sheep and goats.
The Baghdad-Fallujah road, for the first three miles, runs along the top of a high
bund on account of the heavy inundations caused by the Tigris when in flood. As far
as Khan Notah the road keeps near the southern edge of the 'Aqarquf Lake and is pass
able for carriages at all times. From Khan Notah onwards, untrl the high desert ridge
fs reached, the road is liable to be damp and heavy for wheels, but detours can be made
to avoid difficult portions.
'AQARIYAH—
See Bahrain Island.
'aqaw A t—
See Shatt-al-'Arab.
'AQBI—
Same wells in R-adSif [q.v.) in the Hasa district of eastern Arabia*
'AQDAH—
A remarkable amphitheatre or bay in the eastern slopes of Jabal 'Aja in
Northern Najd ; it is formed by the junction of several small valleys within the
mountains. The elevation of its floor is 4,020 feet above the sea or about 500 feet
above Had, but the climate is exceedingly hot in summer. The hills which surround
'Aqadah are inaccessible from the outside, and the only entrance to the place is by a nar
row gorge called Ri'^al-'Aqdah 6 miles west-south-west of Hail which is 100 yards wide at
the mouth but contracts, further in, to 50 or less. At the narrowest part it is barred by a
dry-stone wall about 10 feet high and 3 feet thick, in which at the southern end is a gate
way with a heavy iron gate, broad enough for 4 camels to pass through, abreast. The
approach is capable of defence by a small number of riflemen posted behind the wall
and upon the hill on its flanks. The various interior valleys of 'Aqdah are overhung
by naked granite crags, and their floors are of granite covered with 12 or 15 feet of a
gravel which contains- much moisture and supports plantations of date trees aggregating
about 75,000 palms. The various groves are walled, and each contains a hamlet named
after the clan of the Shammar tribe which inhabits it; they are :— ? Abaid, 'Abdullah,
Aqni, 'Ali, 'Ata, Fadhil, I>hiyab, Hamil, Jabar, Jinidah, Mufadhdhal, Rakhls, Salit
Shlrah, Shumailah and Zawaimil. The total number of houses, which are of sun-dried
brick, is about 460 ; and the largest villages, are 'Abdullah and Mufadhdhal with 40
houses each,' Abaid with 35, and S-humailal^ with 30*. The fixed population is estimated
at 1,500 souls and this is increased by 500 during the date season when Bedouins who
own some of the date groves are encamped in them. About J the palms belong to the
permanent inhabitants, J to Bedouins of the Shammar tribe and J to the Amir of Jabal
Shammar ; the plantations belonging to the Amir and his relations are situated in the
middle of the valley where the subsoil contains most water. Besides dates-, limited
quantities of maize, millet and fruit are grown. 'Aqdah is regarded by the Al Rashld
as their ancestral stronghold, and various members of the family own forts in it large
enough to accomomodate their households in time of danger. In spite of the abun
dance of its dates 'Aqdah, it is believed, could not on account of the paucity of its other
resources stand a siege of more than 3 months.*
Another authorityf describes 'Aqdah as a fortress in the mountains, some miles,
from Hail, approached from the plains by a narrow winding valley bounded on both
sides by granite'rocks which rise abruptly out of a bed of sand. It is a position of great
natural strength, made stronger by some rude attempts at fortification. Inside the
defences the valley broadens out into an amphitheatre, formed by the junction of three
or four watercourses in which there is a village and a palm garden. The watercourses
♦ The Blunts.
t Erom the M, R. <m Syria, lyll.