HASA, EL, so-called from the springs of its main oasis, is the easternmost province of the kingdom of Najd or Nejd ex tending S. along the west coast of the Persian gulf, with an average width of so m. from the frontier of the Kuwait enclave to Jabrin on the north edge of the Great South desert. The coast is low and flat, with a deep barrier of sand-dunes between it and the hard desert. Along it are the three ports of Jubail, Qatif and `Uqair (ancient Gerrha), the first and last being fair "'arbours, which of recent years have attracted an increasing 'mount of trade, while Qatif is both a sea-port and extensive oasis with palms and other cultivation irrigated by springs. The fort of Qatif is a strongly-built structure attributed to the Car mathian prince, Abu Tahir. Inland the southern oasis of Jabrin /vas found by Cheesman, in 1923, to be a miserable settlement of palms, the headquarters of the camel-breeding tribe, Al Murra, of the Rub` Al Khali.
About a so m. N. lies the main oasis, which gives its name to the province and is famous for its many springs, both hot and cold; its prosperous palm groves producing the excellent Khalas variety of date; its Shia` population; its peculiar breed of large white donkeys; and its many settlements, of which the chief are Hof of (30,000) and Mubarraz (20,000) . The Kut or fort of Hofuf is attributed to the Carmathians, and its chief architec tural feature is the great mosque of Ibrahim Pasha, so named after a Turkish governor of the province (not the famous Ibrahim Pasha) during the early 19th century. The great market place, or Slag al Khamis, is the scene of great activity every Thursday, when a good business is done in the produce of the oasis and the `abas (mantles) and leather-work, which are the main features of local industry. `Ain al Harra, near Mubarraz, and Umm al Saba` are the most remarkable of the numerous spring-fed pools, from which perennial streams issue for the irri gation of the oasis.
Before the Wahhabi movement of the 18th century, Hasa was ruled by princes of a dynasty called `Arair. In due course it was absorbed by the Wahhabi empire and, on the destruction of the latter, it came within the orbit of Turkey. Relapsing again under the Wahhabi rule of Faisal ibn Saud, it was reoccupied in by Midhat Pasha and remained part of the Turkish province of Najd until 1914, when Abduraziz ibn Saud captured it by a bold coup-de-main and ejected the Turkish garrisons from Hofuf, Qatif and `Uqair. Since then the province has enjoyed a period of peace and growing prosperity, as testified by several British visitors, the last of whom, Cheesman, spent a considerable time at Hof of and completed the rough survey which was made in 192o by Maj. H. R. P. Dickson. The Hasa tribes—Ajman, Bani Hajir and Bani Khalid—were formerly conspicuous dis turbers of the peace, but have been brought under effective con trol by the present governor, appointed to the post in 1914. The peninsula of Qatar, closing the Gulf of Bahrain on the south, forms geographically part of Hasa, but is administered semi independently by its Shaikhly family of Ibn Thani, which acknowledges Ibn Saud as its suzerain. Part of the prosperity of the Hasa is due to its share in the pearl fisheries along its coast. (H. ST. J. B. P.)