334 At the same time Shakhbut stated that he possessed abou. Liree hundred islands of various sizes, among the largest of which were Sir Bani Yas, al-Yasat (also known as al-Yasain), Dalma, and Ghaghal Available information indicates that Al Bu Falah of Abu Dhabi exercise effective control over a much smaller area than is outlined bu these claims. In the west a good part of the coast between Abu Dhabi and Qatar is also claimed by Saudi Arabia, which is not without arguments to support its claim. Inland, too, the southern limits claimed by Abu Dhabi do not agree with the northern and eastern limits claimed by Saudi Arabia. In the Jiwa district some of the settlements are inhabited by members of Bani Yas, who acknowledge the leadership of the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and pay him a share of their date crops, while other settlements in the same district are inhabited by members of the Manasir, who acknowledge the rule of Saudi Arabia and pay taxes in the form of sakah levied on livestock to Saudi Arabia.* In al-Buraimi the extent of the authority exercised by Abu Dhabi is indefinite, as has been ser forth above. The stutus of the islands lying off this stretch of the southern shore of the Gulf, which is also questionable, is the subject of a separate study. The Island and Town of Abu Dhabi A tower in the town of Abu Dhabi on the north shore of the island has been located at latitude 24° 29'02' N and longitude 54°21 42" E. The island is roughly triangular in shape, the longest side being toward the south. Its greatest length is about eleven miles and its greatest width about five miles. Abu Dhabi island is separated from the mainland by two large inlets: Khaur al-Batin on the south and Khaur Laffan (or Khaur For details on the Jiwa and the allegiance of its inhabitante, see The Eastern Reaches of al-Hasa Province. 168
