'THE GEOLOGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES OF DHUFAR PROVINCE, MUSCAT AND OMAN' [‎47r] (83/96)

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Thomas’ book, Arabia Felix, is that the question of water-supply
would seem a much simpler one than has been thought hitherto.
If irrigation could somehow be introduced it is possible that the
Rub’al Khali might require a change in name, and settlements in
that area might lead to further discoveries of mineral substances.
103. The subject of water has already been fairly fully
discussed for Dhufar generally and for the Jurbaid or coastal plain
of Dhufar in particular (see paragraphs 34, 46 and 55). I have
shown that considerable quantities of water not only emerge as
springs, but that there is, in certain cases, as for example to the khor
El Balad, and possibly to the khor Rori, an appreciable underground
flow. I am not sure of the actual fall between the great spring on
the Rizat wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. 5 miles north of Mahmulah (and the Sultan s
shooting box at Mahmulah), but, assuming a fall of 100 feet with
18 cusecs of minimum flow, the electrical horse-power that might be
generated is about 160 (and thus roughly 120 kilowatts) continuously.
The formula I have used is, for power from a flowing stream, E.H.P-
equals cusecs multiplied by head or fall and divided by 11 (for
kilowatts divide by 15). In this way a valuable quantity of electric
power would become available at Mahmulah, and from this point a
minimum of 18 cusecs of water would be available-for irrigation
purposes I believe that 18 cusecs of water would be ample tor
nearly 3 square miles of sugar-cane (roughly 1 cusec for 100 acres).
If a second area as large as 3 square miles could be irrigated, there
would be assured supplies of cane for an important sugar factory An East India Company trading post. .
This is one example of the value of water in agriculture. There is
no doubt at all that sugar-cane could be successfully grown and that
a sugar factory An East India Company trading post. is worth consideration near Mahmulah.
Other Industries
104. As agriculture looms large in the industrial picture of
Dhufar the problems and possibilities should repay examination by
a suitable expert on such questions as sugar-cane etc., which might
yield high-priced products. On the hills,_ Jabal Qara, although
soil is fertile, I was of the opinion that it is good cattle country, and
consequently grass and hay should be important considerations^
In this connection the Bents (see page 263, Southern Arabia) wrote o
the ‘Qara mountains’ (Jabal Qara),; . As we happened to be there
in the dry season, the grass was all brown and shppery, and t
stood around us acres upon acres of hay with no one to harvest it
bid after the rains the aspect of the Gara hills must be as geen and
pleasant as those of Derbyshire ... I was even more surprised to
learn that, because of lack of grass m the dry season, camel loads of
H fieri sardines were taken up into the hills as food tor the cattle.
There are fairly large herds of cattle in the hills, and there can be no