Page 184 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 6 -10

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DISTRICTS
water for irrigation is brought in channels from springs. The village
lies on the usual route between Rostaq and Dhank (see Route No.72,
vol. ii, pp. 326 ff.).
7. Maqnlyat, a town on the inland slopes of Western Hajar, but-
reckoned as belonging to the district of Dhahirah. It lies in a valley
known as the Wadi Bilad Shahfnn, a tributary of the Wadi el-Keblr,
which rises near the head of Wadi Beni Ghafir. It consists of some
740 mud houses of the Beni Kelban tribe, belonging to the ‘Ameirah,
GhabribTn, Jerawinah, Sinan, and Subeih sections. The town
possesses considerable date-groves, and wheat, millet, and lucerne
are grown. While many of the inhabitants are engaged in cultiva­
tion, others are camel-men and donkey-men ; they own some
200 camels and 600 donkeys, which ply from Khaburah and Sohar
on the Batinah coast (see above, p. 251 f.) to ‘Ibri and Dhank in
Dhahirah.
S. ‘Aridh, a village on the right bank of Wadi el-Keblr, about
thirteen hours below Miskin ; elevation 1,250 ft. It consists of
about 320 houses of the Beni Kelban (Jerawinah section) and the
Shakeil tribes. It possesses date-palms and cultivation, but the
inhabitants are carriers as well as cultivators, owning some 40
camels and 100 donkeys.
9. Dariz, a village four hours below ‘Aridh, in a side valley of
Wadi el-Keblr, known as Qarn el-Kabsh. It consists of some 230
houses, most of them belonging to the MWayihah tribe. There are
a few date-palms and a dilapidated fort.
10. Beit el-‘Ainein, a fort in the Wadi Saneisal, below the junction
of the Wadis Keblr and Sharsah. It consists of a building with two
flanking towers, and has the reputation of being the second strongest
fortress in Dhahirah. For many years its possession w'as fiercely con­
tested by the surrounding tribes, and it is now occupied by a tribal
garrison of the Miyayihah, who also hold an adjoining hamlet of
20 huts and a large date-grove watered by three felejs. The place
is also known by the name of Saneisal.
11. ‘Araqi, a village on the right bank of Wadi Saneisal, just below
Beit el-‘Ainein, ancl about two miles above ‘Ibri. It consists of
some 225 houses, of which about 100 belong to the ‘Abriyln tribe,
90 to the Beni Rashid, and 35 to Baluchis ; there are some date
plantations. The place is of importance owing to its fort, which
came into the possession of the Sultan of Oman in 1904, and con­
stituted his only foothold in Dhahirah. In normal times the Sultan
stations a Vali at ‘Araqi, and about $100 is collected annually as
Zakat and expended locally.
The former village of Ghabbi, which lay just below ‘Araqi on the

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