'Southern Nejd: Journey to Kharj, Aflaj, Sulaiyyil, and Wadi Dawasir in 1918.' [‎16r] (36/100)

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about five miles across and twenty-five miles in length from
Umm Shinadhir on the north to the southern extremity of the
Badia oasis, and containing some thirteen distinct oases to say
nothing of a number of isolated patches of corn land.
The most remarkable feature of the district—a feature from
which it derives both its name* and great part of its prosperity,
greatly as the latter has obviously declined since ancient times—
is a semi-circular group of eight spring-fed reservoirs, similar
to those of Kharj, lying close together half-way down the eastern
line of the settled area under the low rim of the Ghadhara tract.
The largest of these called Umm al Jabal is a regular lake about
half a mile long and a quarter of a mile broad lying at the southern
extremity of the semi-circle and bordered by low reedy banks on
three sides and the limestone cliff of the Ghadhara about twenty
feet high on the east. Next to it northward lie two small pools
called Umm al Habbab, one about ten yards by three and the
other about sixty by forty yards in extent. Next northwards lies
Umm al Adhman a square pool between low banks about 100
yards each way. Umm al Dhiyaba beyond it contains no water
and has become filled up with debris forming a broad circular
depression. Next comes Umm al Jurf a small reservoir about
fifty by thirty yards in area between steep banks of no great
height of which one is formed by the Ghadhara cliff; and finally
the series is completed by two large basins called Bahra, respec
tively about 500 by sixty yards and 300 by fifty yards in area.
All these reservoirs, like those of Kharj, are, with the
exception of Umm al Dhiyaba, of immense depth and contain
the same clear, dark water. The slope of the land is from south
to north with Umm al Jibal at the highest point, while to west
and north the plain is scored by the marks of a vast irrigation
system of subterranean canals of the Kariz type extending
towards the Kharfa group of oases on the west and Saih on the
north. The greater part of this chain of canals is in a state of
ruin and decay, especially the western section which has long
fallen into disuse owing to the failure of the flow of water from
the three northern reservoirs. The remaining reservoirs still
give a steady but exiguous flow issuing underground into Karizes,
which flow northward under a broad expanse of high Nafudh,
and thereafter, emerging into the open plain, run in narrow
* This obvious fact is not realised, so far as 1 could ascertain, by the present population
of the district.