'File 35/64 Mineral deposits in Dhofar' [‎2r] (5/126)

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and 4000 feet at the top of the watershed and thence slope away
*From Mr. t0 1:116 draining into V/adi Mugshin* on the southern edge
Bertram
Thome's* o: ^ Khali, Flying over the monsoon clouds it can be
map in
Arabia seen that the cloud formations are entrapped over the enclosed
Felix* 1 . n ^
Mr.Thomas* Pl a i n an(i on southern slopes of the mountains, the reverse
spelling
of place slopes draining to the North being practically free of cloud and
names has
been foil- devoid of moisture. It is in these wadis that the frankincense,
owed thr
oughout for which the mountains have been famous through the ages, grows
this note.
wild. The dryness of the air determines the quality of the
frankincense, the resin of similar trees growing on the southern
slopes being spoilt by Lhe rain.
Although the southern slopes enjoy a good rainfall the
ground soil does not retain the water. Underground rivers drain
the waters of Jabal Aram into V/adi Darbat the mouth of which is
sealed by a sheer limestone cliff 500 feet high. The accumulated
waters fill a lake two miles long, situated at a height of 1000
feet, and overflow during the rains to form a picturesque
waterfall. Other underground rivers feed perennial springs at the
foot of the hills. There are six of these springs; Jerzeez, the
best of them, producing an estimated flow of 40,000 gallons of
water an hour. These waters, if unharnessed, again disappear
underground in the foothills and reappear to feed extensive fresh
water creeks in the coastal belt divided from the sea only by
narrow sand bars. Fresh water is easily obtainable from shallow
wells at a distance of a hundred yards from high water mark and
up x>o a distance of one mile inland, beyond which the increased
depth of the water discourages prospective cultivators.
CLIMATE.
Shade temperatures are moderate rarely exceeding 96°
Fahrenheit and seldom falling below 60°. Monsoon clouds keep
the summer cool if sticky while the winter months are warm
except for periods when cold winds from the northern deserts
cause heavy and prolonged dust storms and a sharp fall in
temperature.
PEOPLE.
The people of the Province are as varied as the
landscape,/