'Extracts from Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia by J G Lorimer CIE, Indian Civil Service' [‎68r] (140/180)

125
Name.
Position.
Nature.
Remarks.
Mashairif
About 16 miles south
east by east of
Maqta'.
Wells.
Surrounded by desert.
Raknah
20 miles north-west
of the Baraimi
Oasis.
A camping ground with
Ghaf trees.
Frequented by Bani Yas
nomads, especially those
of the Qumzan section.
Samaih
6 or 7 miles east and
somewhat south of
Khor-al-Ghanad-
hah. The place is
in Abu Dhabi terri
tory.
A locality characterised by
stony hills interspersed
with sand: there are some
7 wells about 15 feet deep,
but the water is drinkable
only after rain.
Samaih is a convenient ren
dezvous for Bedouins and
is used as such by the
Shaikhs of both Abu Dhabi
and Dibai when preparing
for war. Bani Yas of the
Rumaithat section camp
about here.
Silmiyah
Between Khatam and
the sea, about 20
miles south-south
east of Abu Dhabi
Town.
Wells.
Inhabitants. —The settled population of the principality are merely the residents
of Abu Dhabi Town and Batin village in the home division, the occupants of fixed
settlements in the Liwah tract of the Dhafrah division, and the inhabitants of
Dalmah island. The composition of the non-nomadic population is therefore as
follows:—
Tribe.
Place.
Number of souls.
Bani Yas,
Abu Dhabi Town.
2,800
Do.
Liwah tract.
5,100
Do.
Dalmah island.
75
A1 Bu Mahair.
Abu Dhabi Town.
500
Do.
Batin.
500
Sudan.
Abu Dhabi Town.
375
Do.
Batin.
150
Persians.
Abu Dhabi Town.
500
Marar.
Do.
200
Baharinah.
Do.
120
Miscellaneous.
Do.
635
The total is thus about 11,000 souls. . - T _ ,
The Bedouins of the principality are the remainder ot the Bam \ as and nearly
the whole of the Manasir tribe, or together about 3,300 persons. It is probable
that the nomads of the Dhawahir, Bani Qitab and Nairn sometimes cross the
indefinite eastern border into the Abu Dhabi Shaikhdom, but they can hardly be
reckoned to belong to it. _ i- i + /- i
Resources and trade. —There is no cultivation except a httle ot dates. Camels
abound; but cattle, sheep and goats are few; and pearl diving is the principal
occupation even of the Bedouins. In the whole of the Shaikhdom there are about
410 pearl boats, of which the majority are owned at Abu Dhabi Town and iiO at
Batin, the remainder being kept in creeks along the coast, or on islands, they are
as a rule of small size and work on banks adjoining the coast or islands. ere
are about 10 sea-going vessels at Abu Dhabi Town, of which 2 are Sambu s an