Page 216 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 6 -10

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PHYSICAL CHARACTER 285

features other than the isolated hills or ridges which break the
surface and serve as landmarks. Such hills are War ah, 35 miles
S. of Koweit town, and the hills of Mindqlsh, 25 miles to the W. of
it; the long, low ridge of Musannuh, running NE. by SW. between
Dibdibah (see p. 292) and the Batin E. of Hafar, also deserves
mention. There is no running water in Koweit territory with the
exception of the stream of Maqla', flowing from the salt spring of
‘Ain el-'Abd into the sea at the boundary between the tracts of
Sudah and Hazeim. Wells as a rule are some 20 ft. deep, and the
water is often brackish ; they are scarce N. of .Tahrah and in
* * *•
the SW. part of the territory toward the desert, Suminan being
.*
practically waterless ; the more important wells are mentioned
below under the districts in which they are situated. Vegetation
is scanty. The chief trees are the date-palm and the her or sidr
(a species of acacia). Various bushes provide fuel and grazing for
camels. Wild animals are scarce, but the wolf, gazelle, and hare
are found, the latter in Dibdibah and Summan. Among birds, the
lesser bustard and the sand-grouse may be mentioned, the latter
plentiful in the Batin in winter.

Climate

The climate of Koweit town is often cool when the NW. wind, the
Shamed, is blowing ; the summer heat is tempered by sea-breezes,
and the neighbouring desert cools quickly at night. The average
maximum temperature in the five }rears 1909-13 was 114° F., and the
minimum 35°,'though in 1911 the thermometer fell to 24-7° F. in
January. The hotter months are from April to November, the
cooler from Decembor to March. The average rainfall for the same
period was 4-796 in., though in 1909 it was as low as 2-42 in. and in
1911 as high as 6-47 in. For the interior there are no regular
statistics. Temperatures recorded by Raunkiaer between Koweit
and Safah in February and March 1912 show a maximum at mid­
day of 77° F. and an average of rather over 50° F. at 9 p.m. or
7 a.m., the thermometer falling even lower on the morning of
February 25. Both the above traveller and Shakespear were more
than once delayed by heavy showers of rain, and it may perhaps be
assumed that the rainfall in the Batin and in Summan is not inferior
to that of the littoral. It may be noted that good winter rains, by
ensuring abundant pasture in spring, increase the range and fre­
quency of Bedouin raids.

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