'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. II' [‎1086] (123/688)

1086
KUWAIT PRINCIPALITY
Districts and islands. —The Shaikhdom, considered from the physical point of view,
falls naturally into two parts, one to the north and the other to the south of a line
joining Kuwait Town and Riqa 'i. In the northern block lie the districts or tracts of
Batin, Shiqqaq, Batin, Umm-al-Khllan, Yah, Qira'-al-Marru, Zaqlah and Zor. The
southern block comprises the three great divisions of Summan, Dibdibah and Umm
Janaib ; and the last, which lies along the coast to the south of Kuwait Bay, is further
subdivided into districts named Shaqq, Qra ah, 'Adan, Salu and Hazaim. There is
also, in the extreme south, a district called Sudah, which some authorities treat as
independent of Umm Janaib and others regard as a portion of it.
The maritime possessions of Kuwait may be reckomd to consist of the island of
Failakah which, with its northern and southern outliers of Mashjan and 'Auhah, is
situated at the mouth of Kuwait Bay, and of the islets of Kubbar, C^aru and Umm-al-
Maradim.
Coastal features. —The cost line of Kuwa t, except Kuwait Bay, s insignificant in its
features and hardly merits a detailed description. The following only need be
noted:—
Name.
Position.
Nature.
Remarks.
'Ajuzah (Ras)
12 miles north-east
by east of Kuwait
Town. It is in the
Qra : ah District.
Low cape.
The present Shaikh
of Kuwait has a
fort, Qasr-ash-
Shaikh Jabir, here.
'Amudah (Jabal)
On the coast, about
3 miles south-west-
of Hadd-al-Misha-
'ab. It is in the
Sudah District.
A dark hill of volca
nic aspect appearing
from the sea as 4 or
5 hummocks.
Height is 105 feet;
the hill is a well-
known landmark.
A view of it will be
found in Chart
No. 2374—2837-B.
Ardh (Ras-al)
8 miles east by south
south of Kuwait
Town. It is in the
Qra 'ah District.
Low, sandy cape.
*
The southern entrance
point of Kuwait
Bay ; a beacon is
maintained here by
the Government of
India for the guid
ance of ships. In
spring townsmen
from Kuwait camp
about the base of
this promontory.
Balbul (Dohat) ..
20 miles north-west
of Musalla-miyah
Bay. I t is in the
Sudah District.
Bay and anchorage
A kind of fair is held
here from April to
June at which local
Bedouins barter
their ghi for rice,
date, etc., from
Qatlf. There are
no houses. Bad
water is obtained
from temporary
wells. In the vici-