is superior to that which is found in the interior of this part
of the country.
A little eastward of Bahrein is the peninsula of Bahran,
terminating with the prominent point of Ras Reccan, from
whence numerous islets and shoals extend along the bay inside
of the great pearl-bank, as far as the rock-bound and very
defensible position of Abothubbee. From hence the coast
becomes holder, and the sea less obstructed ; and it continues
so beyond the celebrated Arab town, fort, &c., of Ras-el-
Kha'imah as far as the headland of Cape Mussendom; the
coast t r e n d in g south-eastward from thence is without islands,
except in approaching Maskat and Ras-el-Hadd. As already
observed, the outline is particularly wild and bold between
those places, and it so continues to Bab-el-Mandeb, having in
the interval the projecting capes of Ras Madrake, Monteval,
Fartash, Baghashu’, Makallah, and Aden, with the islands of
Kuria and Muria close to the high and desolate-looking coast
of Mazedra; and about 180 miles from thence is Socotra, an
extensive island, long celebrated for its aloes.
Bab-el-Mandeb, the gate of tears and of misfortune, forms
the entrance of the other arm of the Erythrean sea; this arm
runs about 1320 miles in a north-westerly direction between
Africa and Arabia, and terminates with a fork, formed by the
Akabah, or eastern branch, which runs into the latter territory,
and the western branch, or that of Suez, which washes
part of the former continent, and also of Arabia Petrsea.
The chief headlands in the Arabian Gulf north-westward
of Bab-el-Mandeb, are, Ras Mokha, Ras Zebeed, Ras Myamla,
Ras Jeddere, Ras-el-Bayath, Ras Harram, Ras Mussahrib,
Ras Toorfah, Ras Halli, Ras-el-Abu Kalbe, Ras Abu Mutnah,
Ras Mahassin, Ras-ul- Uswud (near Jiddah), Ras Hartebah,
Ras Mahluk, Ras Delaidelah, Ras Yamboo, Ras Bareedy, Ras
Abumud, Ras Ghurkoomah, Ras Marabat, Ras Abu Mussah,
Ras Maharrash, Ras Wadi Tunan, and Ras Muhammed, the
last of which separates the gulfs of Suez and Akabah. The
most considerable islands on the coast south-eastward of
the latter inlet, are, Tirahn, Senaffer, Shooshooah, Burraghan,
J.oubah, Numakn, Mushabeah, Hassanee, Abu Laad, Serrane,
Jebel Sabyar, Jezerat Gootna, Jebel Momed, Sarso, Jezerat
Deesan, Farsan Seggeer, Farsan Kebir, Goomak, Doomsook,
Tokaillah, Hammar, Entookjash, Kotama, and Jebel Teer, an
active volcano 900 feet high; also Humreek, Ockbane, Kamran,
and Zebayer, which are likewise volcanic. Lastly, the islands
of Jebel Zoogur, Uarnish, and Perim, the last being situated
in the Straits of Báb-el-Mandeb. These, and thousands of
islets between them, are coral formations, and are constantly
increasing; the bed of the sea itself is also covered with coral,
and from hence is derived the Hebrew name, Bahr-souph
(Sea of Sea-weed). The islands, with almost the single exception
of Kamran, being deprived of harbours, they become
a serious impediment to any navigation but that of steam, and
the vessels have to pass up and down a narrow sea which has
been aptly compared by Strabo to a salt river; that writer
describes it as full of rocks, enclosed by high mountains, and
into which no river, and scarcely any rain falls. Owing to the
harriers formed on each side by the mountains, the changes of
the seasons cause a strong north-west wind to prevail down the
Red Sea from the middle of May, with little or no intermission
till September, and upwards, or towards Suez, during the rest
of the year; and experience has taught the Arabs here, as in
the Persian Gulf, to commence their annual voyages towards
the close of the favourable monsoon,' and return with the next,
so as to have a fair wind along either the African or Arabian
shore. Although this trade includes the principal as well as
the inferior places along both coasts, it must of necessity be
limited, but at the same time it is cheap and certain.
The existence of a fresh-water lake at El Asha,1 and of
several in Nejd, as ascertained by Captain Sadleir, has established
the fidelity of Strabo in this particular.8 There are
others, but of small size, in Arabia Felix, in Tehámeh,3 and in
’Omán, and one called Salomé has recently been discovered by
Monsieur Chédufau and Colonel Mary in Ahkaf.4 But the rest
of the surface of Arabia appears to be without any thing like
1 Vol. I I l l p. 464, of the Bombay Literary Society. ! Lib. XVI., p. 773.
3 Niehbuhr’s Travels in Arabia, translated by Robert Heron, vol. I., p. 297.
4 Bulletin de la Société de Géographie de Paris, 1843, p. 101.