'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. II' [‎1362] (417/688)

I
1362
Khan Qr, ah
Khazaz (Jabal)
Miskah ..
Nir (Jabal-ar>-)
Quwai'iyah
Sha'arah
Shibirmah
Shiffa ..
najd
South- Western District —-conti.
A hamlet of the Sabai tribe in the desert, 12 hours' march east
wards of Jabal-an-NIr ; it is a halting place on the Riyadh-
Mecca route. There are corn-fields and a score of wells holdiug
sweet water at 7 fathoms.
A small range of hills running parallel to the ' Anaizah-Mecca
route near Dukhnah at a distance of 4 or 5 miles to the north
west. Here is said to have been fought in pre-lslamic times a
decisive battle between the Tubba' of Yaman and Kukih, Shaikh
of the Rabi'ah.
A hamlet of 30 mnd houses a few miles north of Dhariyah; it is
surrounded by a wall with 4 towers. The inhabitants are Arabs
of mixed origin. The wells contain good water at 8 fathoms, and
cereals are grown, but no dates. Sheep and goats are numerous
an 1 there are a few other animals. 'Ataibah and Mutair Bedou
ins encamp in the vicinity, the former in summer.
A mass of low hills about 120 miles south by west of 'Anaizah
on the south -east side of the route to Mecca and adjacent to it.
Jabal-an-Nir stands in a hollow and is masked from the north by
a detached hill called Kadhadiyah ; the drainage of the surround
ing desert gravitates to the depression which surrounds Jabal-al-
Nir and supplies several groups of wells, one of which, Hanabij,
is said to comprise 200 borings. Jabal-an-Ni-* is low on the
north, and its contours are mild. The route divides it from
the hills of Shi'ar and Shi'abah to the north-west of which the
latter is craggy and said to contain many Badun or wild groats.
A village in the desert, probably to the west-south-west of Washam ;
the route from Shaqrah to Mecca is said to pass through it.
Altogether there may be 100 houses; the inhabitants are Bani
Zaid, Bani Khalid of the 'Arafah section and Bani Khadhir,
along with a few 'Ataibah and Qahtan. The Bani Khalid
live in a separate Qasr which is a mile or two to the south-west of
the main village. Dates, cereals, vegetables, lucerne and melons
are grown. Water is at 6 fathoms, livestock are numerous ex
cept horses. The Shaikh is of the Bani Zaid, at present 'Ab-
dullah-bin-Mas'ud.
A largish village of 100 or more houses on the route from Riyadh
to Mecca, about midway between Duwadimi and Khanuqah.
The Arab inhabitants are mostly Bani Zaid of the Qaihab section,
but some Sabai', 'Ataibah and Qahtan are also found. In
number Bani Khadhir and slaves predominate over the Arabs.
There are a few date palms and numerous wells with sweet water
at 9 fathoms. According to Meccan information, the authority
of the Sharif of Mecca begins and that of Ibn Sa'ud ends at
Sha'arah, but it is not certain that this has the acceptance of
Ibn Sa'ud.
A group of 20 Nvells on the ordinary route from 'Anaizah to Mecca
35 to 40 miles south by west of Dukhnah. They contain good
water at 3 fathoms and are frequented by 'Ataibah Bedouins.
A desert tract on the first part of the route from'Anaizah to Mecca.
The true application of the name is uncertain ; by some it is
given to the stretch between Rass and the wells of 'Afif, by
others (who consider it to be identical with Hazam-ar-Raji) to
the tract next beyond 'Afif.
Political organization and external relations. —The normal constitution of Jabal Sham-
mar, Qasim and Southern Najd, the three states which together compose Central Arabia,
is described in the articles under their names. Each of those articles, however, ends with
the intimation that an ostensible Turkish sovereignty or suzerainty has been established