'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎704] (759/1050)

704
HAJAR
north-east to Batinah and those on the south-west to Dhahirah and 'Oman Proper.
The highest portion of Western Hajar is a considerable block at the south-east end which
is called Jabal Akhdhar ; Jabal Akhdhar reaches an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet,
but the remainder of the range to the north-west is considerably less and at the head of
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-Jizi, perhaps the lowest point, it is only 1,860 feet.
The chief valleys which run down from Western Hajar across Batinah to the sea are»
in order from east to west, as follow: Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Tau; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Lajal; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Ma'awal; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
Bani Kharus (near the coast called Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-Qasim) with its eastern affluent WadiMistal
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bani 'Auf ; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Fara' or Rustaq ; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bani Ghafir (in Batinah styled Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-
Hdqain) with its right bank tributary Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sahtan; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Mabrah ; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-Hawasinah
with its tributary from the west; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bani 'Umr; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Shafan; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Sarrami; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows.
'Ahin ; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-Hilti; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-J zi; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bani'Umr-al-Gharbi; Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Hatta ; and
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-Qor. There is also a Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. called Faidh in the neighbourhood of Shinas Town.
Proceeding next from west to east along the inland slopes of Western Hajar, we find
that the range sends down Wadis Dhank and Kabir to Dhahirh and Wadis Tanuf
and Mi'aidin to 'Oman Proper.
The Western Hajar is a limestone range and its geological character is noticed in the
Appendix on geology. The Jabal Akhdhar portion is fully described under its own
name : the remainder is generally very peaked and sharp ridged, with some herbaceous
but very little ligneous vegetation. Trees and plants include Samar, acacia arabica.
rhamnus, screw-pine, oleander, calotropis, euphorbia, caster-oil plant, wild lavender,
a kind of rush called Rasal, used for mat-making, and a plant named Marannahah,
bearng a fruit like a small bitter lime, of which the seeds, administered in food or drink,
cause stupefaction. Birds are few in Western Hajar ; ravine deer and foxes are among
the commoner animals.
Villages and population. —The articles on the Wadis of Western Hajar, a list of which is
given in the preceding paragraph, contain full information regarding the tribes who
inhabit Western Hajar, their villages and their mode of life. To complete the topo
graphy of Western Hajar we subjoin a table of places not situated in any of the
better known valleys :—
Name.
Position.
House and inhabi
tants.
R emarks.
Buwah
Tuwaiyah
Between Tau and
Bidbid, below a pass
of the same name
on the side of it next
Tau.
3 miles west of Nakhl
on the way to' Awa-
bi.
50 houses, mostly of
mud and stone,
of the Bani Jabir.
80 houses of mix
ed tribes, chiefly
Ya'aribah.
The inhabitants have
30 camels, 30 don
keys, 30 cattle and
2,000 sheep and
goats.
The drainage of Tu
waiyah goes towards
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Ma'awal.
Livestock are 20
camels, 40 donkeys,
50 cattle and 700
sheep andgoats.
The following is an estimate of the settled population of Western Hajar:—
Souls.
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. 'Ahin .. .. .♦ .. •• •• 3,000
Jabal Akhdhar (including upper villages of Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Mi'aidin) .. 3,500
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bani'Auf .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,000
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Fara' .. .. .. .. .. 25,000
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bani Ghafir .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,000
Carried over .. 37,500