"كتيّب الجزيرة العربية. المجلد I. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎٨‎٨] (٧٤٨/٣٩٧)

388
JEBEL SHAMMAR
gling town of about 400 houses. The settlement has no bazaar
nor streets, the central nucleus of houses being crossed by a number
of very tortuous lanes between high mud walls. A characteristic
feature of the larger houses, both here and throughout the Jauf,
is a round tower, usually of unbaked brick, from 30 ft. to 40 ft. in
height and 12 ft. or more in breadth, with a narrow entrance and
loopholes above. In some houses the tower forms part of the
house ; in others it is built in the garden. The dwellings of
the chief families are generally isolated, being surrounded by
their own gardens and plantations. The houses of the poorer
classes are clustered together in irregular groups. The gardens,
which fill the intervals between the quarters, are usually enclosed
by mud walls 10 ft. in height; they are exceedingly productive
and are famous for the dates which they produce. Although
these form the staple food-supply, wheat, barley, millet, maize,
lucerne, vegetables, and fruits of various kinds are cultivated. The
latter include apricots, figs, peaches, grapes, and melons. The
chief industry is the weaving of 'abbas', saddle-bags, and camel-
gear. The ' abbas ' are of excellent quality and are in great demand
over all northern Arabia and Syria. The inhabitants have also
a great reputation as artificers in metal and marble. The water-
supply is abundant, and comparatively near the surface, but the
water is insipid.
The most striking feature of the town is the castle, which stands
on rising ground above the principal at the south-eastern end
of the oasis, and is of comparatively recent construction. It is
a large irregular mass of rough masonry of early date, originally
rectangular, but so patched and added to that its original form has
almost disappeared ; the lower tiers are constructed of dressed
stones. Near the centre of the castle stands a tower about 50 ft.
in height and 20 ft. broad at the base, provided with narrow loop
holes for defence. It is partially enclosed by a curtain wall built of
rough blocks with rubble. The entrance gate, which is arched, lies at
the southern angle. On the same side of the oasis (the southern),
but further to the NW. 5 rises the castle of ' Marid' or the 'Rebel'.
It is of massive stone masonry, probably of Arab construction.
Jauf derives considerable importance from its geographical
position, for it lies on the direct caravan route between Central
Arabia and Syria. It is quite isolated, being about midway
between the Euphrates and the Hejaz Railway, and between
Jebel Shammar and Jebel Duruz. It lies roughly some two to
three hundred miles from any of these points and is the only oasis
of any note between Akaba and Baghdad.