'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎548] (579/1050)

548 DIB—DIB
Besides Dibai Town and the village of Hajarain, the latter being merely a distant
protectorate, the only permanently inhabited place in the principality is Jumairah,
a coast village about 3 miles south-west of Dibai Town; it consists of 45 date branch
huts and is inhabited by Bani Yas, Manasir and mixed tribes who are all fisher m en and
own among them 5 camels, 60 donkeys, 45 cattle and 200 sheep and goats. None of the
Bedouin tribes are expressly attached to Dibai and the only recognised subjects of the
Shaikh are accordingly the inhabitants of Dibai Town, of Jumairah and of Hajarain.
The trade, shipping, etc., of the principality are simply those of the capital.
The Shaikh maintains about 100 retainers armed with Martini rifles, and about 2,000
or more of his ordinary subjects are reported to be similarly armed. There are no cus
toms at Dibai Town, but the revenues of the principality are said to amount to $51,400
a year, largely derived from the pearl fisheries.—(^aze^eer of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .)
Jahal-al-'Ali, 17 miles south-westward of Dibai, and 3 miles inland, is a flat-topped
hill, 220 feet high, rising gradually from each end; it is the only landmark on or near
the coast.
DIBAI (Khor)—
The western, low, sandy entrance point (Lat. 25° 16' N., Long. 55° 18' E.) of Dibai
Ichor is half a mile northwest of the town: it has of late years somewhat extended, and
projects slightly. The entrance has 2 feet water, with rocky bottom in places, and is
much obstruced by the reef ; the channel winds southward close past the outer entrance
point; a spit extends off Dairah point, which is 3 cables south-eastward of the opposite
side of the entrance. The khor then turns eastward between the town and Dairah point,
where it is 150 yards wide, with from 4 to 5 fathoms water. It extends several miles
south-eastward, but, beyond the town, is only used by fishermen.
The coast from Dibai trends south-westward 70 miles, to Abu Dhabi; excepting a
small village with date trees, about 4 miles south-westward of Dibai, it is quite barren,
uninhabited, very low, and uniform in appearance, with tufts of coarse grass growing on
the sandhillocks, intersected by creeks, and in places by extensive swamps ; there is
no tree larger than a mangrove bush.
Although there are no settled inhabitants, landing on the mainland between these
towns, except with an armed party, is hazardous, as it is often visited by Bedouins from
the interior.
DIBAIYI—
See Tigris.
DlBAKH (J abal)—
See Shafah (Jabal).
DIBAL (F asht-ad)—
An extensive reef in the Bahrain archipelago see Bahrain Principality, marine sur
roundings.
DIBDIBAH —
A large district in the Kuwait Pirneipality, situated between Shaqq on the east
fehi qq aq on the north, the Batin on the north-west and Summan on the south-west: on
the south it ends near Dhula'-al-Mi'aijil. It extends little, if at all, further north than
the latitude of Kuwait Town, and its northern end is about 25 miles west of Jahrah. Its
total length is thus about 100 miles, and its breadth is perhaps 50.
Dibdibah consists of featureless plains, with undulations so slight as to be almost
imperceptible and yet sufficient to conceal camels at comparatively short distances • it
is almost destitute of landmarks. The district contains some pasture in the season;
but it is a very poor country, there are no wells, and the nomads who frequent the
northern part of it actually procure their drinking water from Jahrah. A certain
number of gazelle are found in Dibdibah.