Page 46 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 4,5

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118 HEJAZ

9. Teima is a small oasis-town just outside the south-western
corner of the Nefud, on the northern border of Hejaz, about 65 miles
N. of El-‘Ala. It lies in a depression in the high open plain, at an
altitude of 3,400 ft., on a flood-bottom of fertile loam surrounded
by a sterile ’ Avaste of undulating ground. The oasis consists of
three separate divisions, the principal settlement lying in the centre
and known as El-Haddaj, from the famous well in the midst of its
island of date-palms. The oasis is surrounded by clay orchard-
walls, which are in a very dilapidated state and do not form any
sort of protection. It is fortified by high‘towers of sun-dried brick,
and similar towers are built in the separate quarters of the town ; ;
these date from the insecure times before the government of Ibn
Rashid. Two smaller oases lie to the SE. and NW. respectively ;
they form separate enclosures and are watered by their own wells.
Between that to the NW. and the main oasis is Qasr Zellum, a
square fort-like building, with walls of dry masonry 5 ft. thick,
15 ft. high, and measuring some 50 to 60 paces in length. The
walls of the old Jewish city lie to the SW., some 50 ft. above the
town, where they form a circuit of 3 miles ; and between them
and the oasis are remains of rude stone buildings of the same period.
The present town is a healthy and prosperous settlement. The
clay-built houses are spacious, and most of them are provided -with
an upper floor and with open casements for light and air ; they
are scattered through the oasis, each being surrounded by its own
walled garden. The great mosque lies in the E. of the town.

The water, both for drinking and irrigation, is supplied entirely
by wells, and is flat, lukewarm, and unwholesome. The principal
supply is obtained from El-Haddaj, the great well-pit already
referred to, which is known throughout Arabia. It is a large pit, ,
measuring some 50 ft. across and 50 ft. deep to the water-level, the
sides being walled with cut stones ; the water wells strongly from
a large hole in the rock and suffices for the whole central oasis.
Some sixty frames with draw-wheels are mounted around it, the
leather buckets being raised by well-camels ; irrigation goes on
day and night, but the water-supply is never exhausted. There
are, besides, several other small well-pits dotted about the oasis,
worked by two or three camels each.

The soil of Teima is good, and after one ploughing is fit for sowing
or for the planting of date-palms. The land bears corn every
year, with a variation in the kind of grain ; but the villagers sow
only for one harvest, as the water is required mainly for the date
plantations. They plough in the autumn with the well-camels
and manure the fields from the camel-yards. Wheat, barley,