Page 51 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

OMAN. 9

Dhahirah.
The district of Dhahirah, or the interior, has for its northernmost
boundaries Sir and Ras-ool-Khyma, and contains the following towns,
and inferior dependencies :—Boraimi, Ghabbi, Obra, Dhang, Bahia,
Naziva, Jaalan, Sir, and Madrikah. The part of this district lying
between Bahia, Naziva, and Madrikah is called the eastern division,
or Baladoosh Shargiyyah.
Hajar.
The second midland district, Hajar, or the Rocky, occupies a chain
of mountains, extending north and south through the centre of the
Province of Oman, commencing at Muskat, and terminating in the sea
at the promontory of Ras-ool-Jabal. It contains the towns and lord-
ships of Rastag, the ancient capital of Oman ; Jabai-ool-Akhdhar,
Sama-il-Badbad, Hajar, and Dabba.
Batinah.
The third, or maritime division, called Batinah, is situated between
Hajar and the sea. It is very fertile, and abounds in vegetable
productions, and fruits of all kinds; and is well watered by running
streams. It contains the towns and lordships of Sohar, Shinas,
Mudhliah, Birkah, and Muskat.#
Tribes of Oman.
The tribes of Oman are the Banu Noaimi, of 20,000 effective men,
most of whom are shepherds, and live south-westward of Boraimi. A
division of these, 400 in number, is settled at Ayman, near Shargah;
Beni Katab, 8,000, within two days of Boraimi; Beni Kaab, 4,000, a
branch of the Noaimi, dwell in Dhahirah, near Obra, one day to the
eastward of it • Duma, 20,000, in Hajar, near Jabal-ool-Akhdhar, half a
day to the north of this place; Ali Wahaibah, 30,000, twelve miles
south of Rastag; Beni Mohair, 1,000 men, one day inland south
of Shargah ; Matarish, 500 men, nine miles south of Boo Haile, in
the interior.

MUSKAT, AND THE ADJOINING COUNTRY.

Muskat, the capital and commercial emporium of the Imaum’s
possessions, is situated in lat. 23° 28' N., long. 59° 19' E.
Muskat is surrounded by steep rocks, on whose rugged superficies

* Mutrah is the best watering-place; but water is also to be bad on almost any part of
this coast.