'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎517] (548/1050)

2-7Z
LHAHIRAH
517
ithe^
! characteristics. —Dhahirah consists of a plain of uneven surface sloping down
from the hills of Hajar to the Ruba'-al Khali, in which the whole of its drainage is lost.
It has two principal valleys, Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Dhank, which comes down from Hajar to the town of
Dhank and thence runs to the Ruba'-al-Khali preserving throughout its course a general
direction from east to west, and Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-Kablr which, descending from Hajar west-south-
westward towards 'Ibri, becomes in the neighbourhood of that town Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sanaisal and
receives from the east Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sharsah and Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-Ain, the former joining it a little above,
and the latter a little below, 'Ibri. The hills which diversify the surface of Dhahirah are
outliers of Hajar; chief among them are detached or semi-detached eminences around
'Ibri which attain an elevation of 300 or 400 feet above the plain, an isolated group of
low hills called Jabal Falaij which lies some 25 miles to the north-west of 'Ibri, and
some scattered hillocks between 'Ibri and Jabal Falaij on the side towards the Great
Desert. The north-western slopes of Jabal-al-Kor may be regarded as pertaining to
Dhahirah along with a ridge called Jabal Haddah which runs west-north-west from the
southern extremity of Jabal-al-Kor and forms an acute angle with it.
The elevation of the district varies from 1,200 feet above sea-level at 'Ibri to 2,750
feet at Miskin. To the west of Dhank town the plain is generally stony or shingly with
a sparse growth of mimosa and acacia that affords winter grazing for thousands of
Bedouin goats. South of Dhank town a more sandy and less stony region begins. The
south-east corner of the district between Jabal-al-Kor and Jabal Haddah is a plain
sprinkled with mimosa and debris from the hills. Scrub jungles cover the open plains
through which Dhahirah merges alonglts entire length into the Ruba'-al-Khali. Every
where water is derived from springs.
Populations, —Full particulars of the settled inhabitants of Dhahirah will be found
in the articles on the Wadis mentioned in the preceding paragraph, in those on the
towns which they contain, and in the table of villages given at the end of this article.
In this place it is sufficient to recall that 'Ibri is mainly a town of the Ya'aqib and Dhank
of the Na'im, while considerable settlements of Bani" 'Ali, Bani Zid and Bidah occur in
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Dhank ; Bani Kalban are found in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Dhank and Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. al-Kabir ; Abriyin in
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sanaisal; Bani Hina, Manadharah and Sawawifah in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-'Ain ; and Maqabil
in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sharsah. Towards the north-western end of the district there are communities
of Bani Qitab, and Baliichis and other tribes are represented in various places in
numbers not entitling them to special mention here. Regarding the nomadic inhabitants
of Dhahirah less is known ; but they seem to be chiefly Na'im and 'Awamir in the
north-west and Dam in the south : there are also Bani Zafait. The Bedouin element
is in Dhahirah highly important but its numerical strength is not ascertainable.
The following is an estimate of the settled population of Dhahirah :
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-'Ain
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Dhank
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-Kabir with its tributary Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bilad Shahum
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sanaisal
• • •• •• ••
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sharsah
Remainder of the district (see the table at the end of this article)
Total
3,000
7,300
8,000
6,400
1,400
5,000
31,100 souls.
Agriculture, industries and trade.—The products of Dhahirah include all the typical
products of the 'Oman Sultanate, and the wheat is reputed better than that of the other
districts. ^ The soil, where cultivable, is described as a rather heavy clay mixed with
stones. 'Ibri is the centre of the richest cultivation ; in its vicinity are produced wheat,
millet, indigo, sugar and lucerne, besides dates, mangoes, limes and other fruits The
chief industry is indigo-dyeing. Wheat and fruits are exported to the Sharqiyah and
Sohar districts.
Administration.—The hold of the Sultan of 'Oman on the Dhahirah district is slight.
but he maintains a Wali, supported by a garrison of 20 men, at 'Araqi in Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sanaisal!