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to eat sitting on the floor on which were spread round
leather covers, women being segregated from men, when
partaking of meals. All male adults were always occupied
with the various economic fields. Some of them were
occupied with the service of the palaces of the royal family
as scholars, guards and servants. However, the major part
of the population worked in agriculture.
In times immemorial, there used to flow from the
regions of the Hijaz mountains, that have a much better
climate, fully fledged rivers that flowed eastwards, meeting
in the middle of the Arabian Peninsula and reaching the
coast of the Arabian (Persian) Gulf. These streams have
carried sandy soil and light calcareous and nacreous soil
which helped in the formation of irrigated and fertile soil
and in the creation of oases in this part of the isolated
middle of the Arabian Peninsula that is not quite suitable
for human living. Here underground water was available
at reasonable depth, which enabled the population to dig
wells and produce enough water for themselves, their
animals and for agricultural purpose. At this stage there
emerged irrigated agriculture that can still be seen today.
Water was extracted by means of canals and waterwheels
made of hard wood and skins from which are suspended
big stones for purposes of weight-giving. This system
made use of donkeys and mules. Now, however, farmers
use electric pumps, but even today, it is still possible to
see the old system of farming and irrigation. I have seen
with my own eyes mules being harnessed to work in an
agricultural land in the area of Al-Janadriah. Such animals
used to move back and forth along trodden tracks driven
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by the stick or whip of their master.
From the wells that are dug throughout the agricultural
area, brooklets were dug and stone basins were built
and are still in good shape. Some are still in use. In the
foundations of the city walls, sewage pipes were laid
down for discharge of surplus water directly to the valleys
that were transformed during the season of heavy rain
into effluent streams. The presence of water, fertile lands
and cooperative societies of relatives, who cooperated
in daily hard agricultural work, have contributed to the
rapid transformation of Dar’iyyah into a large oasis, a
convenient living place and a real paradise for animals,
birds and insects. Here were grown wheat, vegetables,
barley and maize. The area of the cultivated land was in
proportion to the quantity of water available. Grains were
grown in the autumn, and were irrigated immediately after
plowing (usually with wooden ploughs), such activity
being accompanied by prayer to God to send enough rain
for irrigating the crops. Such activities continue until the
end of April, just before the season of the oppressive heat.
In the summer, water was used to irrigate palm trees,
orchards and fields. The screeching of the waterwheels
was the permanent background noise in the country side,
day and night. Fruits and vegetables were grown in the
shade of palm trees; such practice is maintained up till
now.
The state of the Saud family kept expanding. Until
the year 1808 it dominated a large part of the Arabian
Peninsula, including Hijaz. However, the Ottoman
state that was not happy with the strengthening of the