Page 306 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 6 -10

330 EL-QATAR,

contains a bazaar of about 50 shops and an hereditary mansion
of the Al Thani, the ruling family, though tho ruler himsolf gener­
ally lives 15 miles away at Luseil (seo below). In QaTat el-'Askar
is the fort formerly occupied by the Turkish garrison and officials,
built in 1S50. Bida' is the oldest quarter ; it is a compact settle­
ment, half occupied by Sudan, descendants of the original settlers ;
Rumeilah claims the residence of Khallfah, brother of the present
Sheikh. Between QaTat el-‘Askar and Bicla' is a space now de­
serted, but formorly occupied by a Oth quarter named Murqcib
cl-Cfharbi. The principal elements of the population,_other than
tho Sudan above mentioned, are Sulutah (3,250), Al Bin ‘A1 i
(1,750), Hwwalah (1,000), Ma'adhid (500), and negroes, slaves
and free (3,500), with smaller numbers of other tribes, and GOO
jBahdrinah and Persians. With the exception of the Bahdrinah,
who are blacksmiths, coppersmiths, and petty pearl dealers, the
inhabitants live by pearl-diving, sea-fishing, and a small maritime
carrying trade. About 350 pearl-boats, 60 sea-going boats running
to Oman, and nearly 100 fishing-boats are owned in the place. The
only well close to Dbhah, called 'Ain Weled Sa'id, is 4 mile S. of the
Dohah quarter. The Turkish garrison obtained most of its water
from Musheirib, a group of wells 1 mile W. of the same quarter,
where they kept an outpost of 8 men in a tower, and cultivated
a vegetable garden. Three miles farther inland is a large stone-lined
well of indifferent water named Bir el-Jedidah, on which the town
chiefly depends. The wells of Na'aijah, 4 miles S. of the town, are
used by the wealthier inhabitants; they are situated near some;'
date-palms and a fort; the water is at 24 fathoms, and the best well
is called ' Aseilah.
Little can be obtained in Dohah in the way of supplies. Live stock '
includes about 8U0 camels and 150 horses.
2. Wakrah, on the coast, 10 miles SSE. of Dbhah, with about i
8,000 inhabitants, mostly pearl-divers, sailors, and fishermen ; the
residence of Sheikh ‘Abd er-Rahtnan, brother of the Sheikh of El- :
Qatar, who occupies a large fort -J- mile inland from the town, re­
sembling that of the Sheikh of Bahrein at Manamah, but with less
massive walls. The houses are all of mud and stone, and originally
formed a compact block along the beach, but of recent years a
detached quarter named Rumeilah has sprung up about 4 mile to
the N., under another brother of the ruling Sheikh. There is no
proper harbour ; two reefs, one 7 miles to the SE., the other I mile 1
to NE., imperfectly protect the anchorage. European vessels, even
of small draught, cannot approach nearer than 2 miles from the
shore. The chief sections of the population are Al bu ‘Ainein (2,000),

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