In the court is a fireplace intended for common use; in wet weather the cooking is done in one of the underground rooms. Further, there is often a tank into which water is conducted by pipes from the earth’s surface. At the sides of the court stand large rush baskets filled with corn, and sufficient space remains for fowls and domestic animals, when, under special circumstances, such as threatened danger, these are driven within.
Here and there in the passages are recesses for stabling horses and donkeys, which stand therefore in utter darkness.
In a cave chamber it is dark when the door is closed, otherwise there is sufficient light.
The accompanying sketch shows some of the dwellings inhabited by the Khalifa and his nearest relatives.
From the flat, smooth, open space grown with olive and palm trees, leads the passage to the courtyard.
Dwellings I. and II. are united, and have but one entrance. Through the gate (A) is the entrance to a cave passage, and thereby to the first courtyard. Here are to be found the following chambers: One for the horses, one for the sheep, one containing a tank, another is a kitchen, and, lastly, a store.
From the first courtyard one passes through another cave passage into courtyard No. II. This provides dwellings for all the Khalifa’s sons with their wives and children, and for the mothers of these sons.
The Khalifa himself resides at night in an adjacent cave in company with his third wife, but both spend the day with the rest of the family in courtyard No. II., where they cook and eat in common. As far as I could ascertain, no domestics live here.
This courtyard is furnished with rush baskets for corn, and with a fireplace.
Amar has two chambers, one for each of his wives; and his mother has another close by, so they occupy a whole side of the court.