'Field Notes on Sa'udi Arabia, 1935' [‎47r] (98/248)

73
(x) Taif. —Population, 5,000.
Height above sea level, 5,000 ft.
A summer residence for inhabitants of Mecca and the Vice-regal
Hejaz Government. Plentiful and clear water supply and numerous
gardens, chiefly fruit trees and vines. Fruits grown mostly are
apricots, pomegranates and olives. Palms do not thrive. Roses are
much grown for pressing into otto at Mecca, whence it is distributed
to the Moslem world. Vegetables are exported to Mecca.
Tropical rains fall heavily in the early autumn. W/T and
telephone.
(xi) Taima .—A walled village of some 200 houses, in an oasis.
Population, approximately 1,500. Height, 3,400 ft. above sea level.
Qasr Zallum, a fort in the centre of the village has walls of dry
masonry 5 ft. thick, 15 ft. high, and 60 yards long, and contains
two guns and six machine guns (makes unknown). The oasis is
controlled by Ibn Rumman, hereditary ruler, who also commands
some 40 armed Bedouins, the garrison of the fort. A further
300-350 Bedouins could be called upon to defend the town.
A magazine, on the first floor of the fort, contains a large quantity of
ammunition and a considerable number of German and French
rifles. A well, inside the walls, is used by the inhabitants of the
town and another, 2 miles to the north, is used only by tribes loyal
to Ibn Rumman. Water is brackish in each case. Some tobacco is
grown as well as fruit ; plums, dates, pomegranates, figs, citrons, and
grapes, corn and dates, are exported to the Bedouins. The gates of
the town are open from dawn to sunset.
On the whole unusually prosperous, Taima remains autonomous,
and the officials of Sa’udi Arabia do not enter it.
6 . Ports suitable for Bases
{a) Red Sea Coast
(i) Jedda. — [See Chapter IV above.)
(ii) Rabigh .—From an air point of view, Rabigh is reported to be
suitable. See the following extract from a reconnaissance report on
Rabigh, by Major E. J. Bannatyne, R.F.C., dated 5th September,
1916 :—
" There is a suitable site for a landing ground on the beach
at Rabigh, though it is said to become soft in winter. A further
site which could be used at any time was selected on rising ground
about a mile from the shore, and the R.E. officer states that a
causeway of coral could be made across the soft aerodrome to
enable motor transport to reach the higher level.
“ Conditions at Ras A1 Abyad are similar to those at Rabigh :
a natural aerodrome on the peninsula which is liable to become
soft in winter, and one at higher level, usable in all weathers.'*