"دليل الجزيرة العربية المجلد II" [‎١‎٤‎٨‎٧] (٦٨٨/٥٦٠)

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QAS—QAS
QASIM (W adi-al)—
The name given to the lower course of Wadi Bani Kharus {q. v.), which reaches the seat
a mile or two east of Bu 'Abali on the Batinah coast, eastern Arabia.
QASMlTAIN—
A hamlet in Wadi Bani 'Auf {q. v.), in the 'Oman Sultanate.
QASR ( al)—
One of the quarters of Baraimi village {q. v.), in independent 'OmSn.
QASR (Jabal)—
See Fatasan (Islands and Bank); islands.
QASR (U mm)—
Properly a spot 7 miles above War bah island, on a prolongation northwards of tho
'Abdullah and Sablyah Khors.
For 6 miles above Warbah island the inlet on which Umm Qasr stands is on the average
three-quarters of a mile broad and its depth varies from 6 to 9 fathoms; at 6 miles it
divides into two branches, one of which runs for a short distance (perhaps 3 miles)
north-westwards, narrowing as it goes ; while the other continues northwards in tho
direction of Basrah, The former branch at low tide is a mere mud-flat with a channel
not more than 3 or 4 feet deep close to its western bank; but the branch which runs
northwards continues undivided, with a depth generally exceeding 7 fathoms, for
a distance of 14 miles and then splits into two arms of minor importance. Of these
arms one, going north-north-east, reaches to within 12 miles of the Shatt-al-'Arab
at Abul Khasib with soundings of 3| fathom and over; while the second, going
north-north-west has its head only 11 miles south of Basrah and 10 miles east-south
east of Zubair Town; but it is narrower and much shallower than the other. Now
here within Khor Umm Qasr or Zubair is the navigation easy, for the channel is
winding and the banks are submerged and disappear at high tide. A steamer can
unload 30 yards from the shore Ballam convoys could, in a normal year, get up to
within a few miles of Zubair.
' There is some doubt as to the true nomenclature of these waterways ; but the main
inlet for 6 miles above Warbah island appears to be known locally as Khor-ath-
Tha'alab, the small branch running the north-west as Khor Umm Qasr, and the large
branch running to the north as Khor Zubair.
Umm Qasr proper is situated about 1 mile above the point where the inlet first
divides and about half a mile inland from the western bank of the western branch (Khor
Umm Qasr): the usual landing-place, however, is opposite to the point of separation
' of the branches. The country to the east of the main inlet and to the north of Khor
'Abdullah appears to be a marsh several miles in extent; but it is possible from Ham-
dan on the Shatt-al-'Arab to reach, without leaving terra fir ma, a point about 5 miles
east of Umm Qasr proper.
The only building at Umm Qasr proper is the old Turkish fort, formerly garrisoned
by an infantry detachment from Basrah of about 30 men under an officer. The fort
is nearly square, measuring about 120 feet each way, and having one entrance in the
middle of the north face: a recently constructed salient on the west side enflades two
faces. The walls are 15 feet high loop-holed at 4J feet from the ground, and are built
chiefly of mud: but the gateway and coping of the wall are of burnt bricks. There
are wells with a plentiful supply of water to the northward, opposite the entrance to
the fort at 250 yards distance, and the water used by the garrison is sweet: whether
' it is obtained from these wells or from elsewhere is uncertain. No supplies are obtain
able at Umm Qasr and not even vegetables are grown ; there is grazing for sheep, but
not for horses. The wells are a favourite camping ground of Bedouins. At 300 yards
to the east of the fort are the remains of an old Arab Qasr. The ground in the neigh
bourhood is firm and gravely.
Umm Qasr is 15 miles east-south-east of Safwan and about 34 miles south and
a little east of Basrah ; there are no wells on the direct route from Zubair to Umm Qasr,
and travellers between Basrah and Umm Qasr ordinarily pass through Zubair and
Safwan.