Page 182 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 6 -10

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2G8 THE SULTANATE OF CttL-1 (

Tho principal settlements are described in the following para­
graphs, arranged in order from Dhank up the wadi to which it
gives its name, and then down the Wadi Kebir (with Maqnlyat
on one of its tributaries), and finally down the Wadis Saneisal and
S liars ah :
1. Dhank (pronounced Danch), the second largest town of Dha-
hirah (being exceeded in size by Tbri), at the mouth of the pre­
cipitous gorge by which the Wadi Dhank leaves the hills of Western
Hajar ; population 3,500, belonging in the main to different sections
of the Na'Im tribe. The town lies on the right bank, and is divided
*• into two parts by a ridge of dark basaltic rock, the base of which
is washed by the stream. The upper town (‘Alai/ah) consists of
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about 400 houses in five quarters, and the lower town (Sifdlah) of
about 300 houses in seven quarters, each quarter being separately
walled. There is a fortress in the upper town which is long and
narrow owing to the configuration of the ground ; its curtain-walls
are strengthened by six turrets. The houses are mostly built of
sun-dried brick and are interspersed with date-palms and gardens ;
there is a small bazaar, and on the outskirts of the town are date-
groves, orchards of limes and pomegranates, and some cultivation
of wheat, lucerne, and indigo. Water for irrigation is raised from
wells by bullocks. The stream in the Wadi Dhank, which is here
rapid, diminishes considerably in the hot season, but there are then
heavy dews at night.
2. Dut; a village on the right bank of the Wadi Dhank, with some
date plantations. It consists of about 100 houses of the Bidah and
Sa'idah tribes.
3. Fida, a village on the right bank of the Wadi Dhank, two miles
above Dut, consisting of about 200 houses of the Beni Zid. The
date plantations of the village form a long and narrow fringe in the
vallev.
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4. Yanqul, a village on the left bank of the Wadi Dhank, two miles
above Fida. It consists of about 200 houses of the Beni ‘Ali, and
possesses some date plantations.
5. Wuqbah, a village on the right bank of the Wadi Dhank, with
considerable date plantations, about five -hours above Yanqul. It
consists of about 150 houses of the Beni :Ali.
6. Miskin, a village near the head of Wadi el-Keblr; elevation
2,750 ft. It consists of about 200 houses of the Beni Kelban tribe
belonging to the Jarawinah, ‘Ameirah, and Subeih sections. There '
are considerable date plantations ; wheat, jowari, and lucerne are
grown, and in the orchards the mango, plantain, nabaq, fig, and
vine flourish. The fields are fenced with thorny nabaq branches ;

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