"كتيّب الجزيرة العربية. المجلد I. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎٦‎٩] (٧٤٨/٣٧٨)

DISTRICTS
369
on the east, one each on north and south, and one west, pierced
by the only large gate. All towers are about 10 feet higher than
the walls, and loopholed; but the wall is only crenellated. The gate
is both wide and high enough for a camel-rider, and has a high
threshold. The NE. quarter is ruined and waste ; in the rest
streets run N. and S., with lanes crossing at right angles. There
are few two-storeyed houses, and only one very low and simple
mosque-minaret. Jumbra is smaller and newer. The gardens are
large and enclosed by high walls ; irrigation is by animal traction
from wells from 40 to 60 feet deep. The sand encroaches on the
cultivation from W., and there is much spoilt ground. The popula
tion of the two Zilfis should be about 3,000 souls.
3. Ghat is terraced up the north side of a wadi. It has about
1,200 inhabitants and very large gardens. It lies one day S. of
Zilfi and a short day N. of Mejma'.
4. Jalajil (or Janajil) lies 18 miles south of Mejma', and about 200
feet above it. It is a walled town with castle, some two-storeyed
houses, and very large gardens, which has somewhat superseded
Tuweim, 5 miles SE. (1,200 inhabitants). Shakespear estimated the
population at about 4,000, but 2,000 seems the true figure.
IX. Qasim
Qasim is distinct from the other districts of Nejd in many
respects, and has an individual history. It might better have been
considered as a self-contained region were it not for its comparatively
small area and its frequent political dependence on Nejd.
It has Woshm SE. and the Ateibah steppe SW. : the same steppe
and Jebel Shammar W. and N. ; the North Arabian Desert, where it
changes from nefud to dahanah, NE. ; and the of Sedeir E.
It measures about 90 miles S. to N., and about 60 miles E. to W. ;
the axis lies from SSW. to NNE. (Rassto Sarif), a crow-fly distance
of about 85 miles.
Physically it consists of a section (about 100 miles) of the middle
basin of the great Rummah depression. The north-eastern part of
this is called High Qasim [Qasim el- Its wells are fed by under
ground drainage from the higher-lying ground and mountain ranges
of Jebel Shammar to NW. On its way to the Rummah depression
this drainage follows at least one line of concentration marked by
a chain of settlements from Quseibah through 'Ayun to near
Boreidah. These lie along a well-marked valley, bounded E. by
a sandy cliff. The southern half is in the main deep lying in
long swelling waves, with uniform N. and S. direction. But it has
aeabia i ao