'Handbook of Arabia. Vol. I. 1917' [‎117] (126/748)

DISTRICTS AND TOWNS 117
hung with curtains, which is supposed to contain the graves of
Mohammed, Abu Bekr, and 'Omar; the reputed tomb of Fatimah
is in a chamber to the N. of this. Within the court of the mosque
are the Prophet's well, and some palms said to have been planted
by Fatimah. The houses of the town are substantially built of
granite and lava blocks cemented with lime ; some of those in
the better residential quarters are four or five storeys high and have
small gardens behind them. The streets are narrow and dark,
but clean, and in part paved.
Unlike Mecca, Medina has always been a city of agriculturists.
It is surrounded on all sides except the W. by date plantations and
cultivated fields, which extend for several miles. A copious supply
of water is conducted from a tepid source (Ez-Zarkah) at the village
of Kubah (2 miles to the S.), and is distributed by underground
conduits to each quarter. Good water is also obtained from many
wells in the oasis, the underground water being within easy reach
at almost any point. Some of the wells are brackish, and the soil
in places is impregnated with salt. The date-palm grows luxuriantly;
no less than 139 varieties are said to be cultivated, of which 60 or
70 are well known. The best class is exported (see above, p. 103).
Vines also flourish, the best variety having a long white
grape ; the fruit-trees include jujube-trees, bananas, limes, some
peach-trees, three sorts of pomegranates, but no apricots. Maize
is largely grown, smaller quantities of wheat and barley, some
Egyptian clover (berslm), and a large assortment of vegetables.
The permanent population, apart from the garrison, is about
40,000, living mainly on the Pilgrimage, on the revenues of the
mosque, and on a large Government grant The suburban
population, composed mainly of landowners and cultivators,
profess Shiah opinions more or less openly and tend to marry
among themselves. In this respect they form a contrast to the
motley population of the city, which through intermarriage with
Turks, Kurds, Persians, and other races is Arab only in language
and customs. Further admixture takes place through new settlers,
who remain behind after each Pilgrimage, attracted by the profits
to be gained as guides and by the Turkish subsidy. All classes
in the town, from the owners of houses to the water-carriers, make
large profits out of the pilgrims, for while a visit to Medina is not com
pulsory (like the Pilgrimage to Mecca), those make it who can afford
the luxury (see Chapter II); thus the annual influx of pilgrims,
though much below that of Mecca, is still very considerable.
Normally there is a garrison of three battalions and some camelry.
Telegraph to Damascus and Yambo'.