"كتيّب الجزيرة العربية. المجلد I. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎٣‎٠] (٧٤٨/٣٣٩)

330
EL-QATAR
contains a bazaar of about 50 shops and an hereditary mansion
of the Al Thani, the ruling family, though the ruler himself gener
ally lives 15 miles away at Luseil (see below). In Qal'at el-'Askar
is the fort formerly occupied by the Turkish garrison and officials
built in 1850. Bida' is the oldest quarter ; it is a compact settle
ment, half occupied by Sudan, descendants of the original settlers •
Rumeilah claims the residence of Khalifah, brother of the present
Sheikh. Between Qal'at el-'Askar and Bida' is a space now de
serted, but formerly occupied by a 9th quarter named
el-Gharbi. The principal elements of the population, other than
the Sudan above mentioned, are Sulutah (3,250), Al Bin 'Ali
(1,750), Huwalah (1,000), Ma'adhid (500), and negroes, slaves
and free (3,500), with smaller numbers of other tribes, and 600
Bahdrinah and Persians. With the exception of the
who are blacksmiths, coppersmiths, and petty pearl dealers, the
inhabitants live by pearl-diving, sea-fishing, and a small maritime
carrying trade. About 350 pearl-boats, 60 sea-going boats running
to Oman, and nearly 100 fishing-boats are owned in the place. The
only well close to Dohah, called 'Weled is mile S. of the
Dohah quarter. The Turkish garrison obtained most of its water
from Musheirih, a group of wells 1 mile W. of the same quarter,
where they kept an outpost of 8 men in a tower, and cultivated
a vegetable garden. Three miles farther inland is a large stone-lined
well of indifferent water named on which the town
chiefly depends. The wells of Na 4 miles S. of the town, are
used by the wealthier inhabitants ; they are situated near some
date-palms and a fort; the water is at 2J fathoms, and the best well
is called 'Aseilah.
Little can be obtained in Dohah in the way of supplies. Live stock
includes about 800 camels and 150 horses.
2. Wakrah, on the coast, 10 miles SSE. of Dohah, with about
8,000 inhabitants, mostly pearl-divers, sailors, and fishermen; the
residence of Sheikh 'Abd er-Rahman, brother of the Sheikh of El-
Qatar, who occupies a large fort J mile inland from the town, re
sembling that of the Sheikh of Bahrein at Manamah, but with less
massive walls. The houses are all of mud and stone, and originally
formed a compact block along the beach, but of recent years a
detached quarter named Rumeilah has sprung up about ^ mile to
the N., under another brother of the ruling Sheikh. There is no
proper harbour ; two reefs, one 7 miles to the SE., the other 1 mile
to NE., imperfectly protect the anchorage. European vessels, even
of small draught, cannot approach nearer than 2 miles from the
shore. The chief sections of the population are Al bu 'Ainein (2,000),