'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. I' [‎959] (1026/1050)

JID—JIF
959
Kon-Moslems are not allowed to go outside the walls. The normal garrison is a battalion
with two field guns. The Wali of Hejaz is here represented by a Qaimmakam.
The wells in the town are brackish ; but good water is brought from rain-cisterns or
from wells and springs 7 miles away. There is a water-condenser in the town which
works irregularly, and its condensed water, being taken from a foul part of the harbour,
often has a bad smell and taste ; it can turn out about 30 tons a day. The price at the
condenser works out at about 85. §d. a ton, but as much aga n has to be paid for transport
in the town in small quantities. On the quarantire island there is a smaller condenser,
said to turn out about 15 tons a day, supplying certain-individuals and not the general
public ; the price of its water works out at £1 I65. 8c?. per ton, including transport to
shore. The price of good drinking-water from wells and springs varies down to about
10s. per ton, including transport; in 1912 it stood at the extraordinarily high rate of
| about £1 a ton. At that time and for two years previously, there had been practically
no rain-water from cisterns ; when there is any its price is geneally about I85. per ton,
including transport.
The bazaar (southern quarter) is well supplied. A petroleum engine for a flour mill,
turning out about 18 cwt. of flour daily, was reported to have been set up and to be
working in 1912 ; it is of British manufacture. A portable hospital, made of compressed
paper and well equipped, was set up by the Turkish Government in 1911 outside the town
for the accommodation of 100 pilgrims. The climate of Jiddah, though hot, is not un
healthy, the sea-breeze counteracting to some extent the insanitary condition of streets
and houses ; but mortality is high, and bubonic plague to some extent probably
endemic. Residence of Consuls (northern quarter); telegraph to Mecca and other towns
in Hejaz and Yemen ; cable (not working) to Suakim.
JIDHA'AN—
See 'Ataibah ; Roqah division.
jidhab A h—
Aden Protectorate.
JIDI (J azirat)—
See Bahrain Island ; features of the coasts.
jidoai—
See Biyadh; part III; three wells.
JIDR—
An extensive wound to the east of Fara' and Abu Hatab, in 'Iraq ; the character
of the remains is doubtful, but the use of lime mortar in such as are visible on the
surface indicates a late epoch.
JIDUFAH—
See Maslrah.
JIFAFALAH—
See Na'im ; a section of the Al Bu Kharaiban of Bahrain and Qatar.
jifan (A bu)—
Some wells in Eastern Arabia, 63 miles eastward of Riyadh along the usual route be
tween that place and Al-Hasa. The wells of Abu Jifan, which are situated outside the
Dahanah in the stony 'Urmah plain, are 15 in number and contain plenty of good water
at about three fathoms.
JIFAR—
See ( Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. ) Boshar,
JIFAR—
^ The Bedouin pronunciation of Qafar (tf.r.). in Jabal Shammar.