The survey and description by Captain Plaines, of the Indian
navy, have made us acquainted with the coast, but the interior
is little known. Indeed this interesting province has scarcely
been visited by any European, if we except the hasty journey
of a Polish gentleman,1 who traversed it in going from Mokha
to Mask at, keeping parallel to, and at no great distance from,
the coast. During this undertaking that gentleman met with
a number of villages, surrounded by cultivation ; but a wilderness
constitutes the greatest part of the tract lying between
the Arabian and Persian Gulfs. The province under consideration,
which probably is the linest portion of the country,
contains three descriptions of people, viz., the Bedawin, the
Kobails or highlanders, and Arabs, who have become fixed
residents in the towns and villages. These are in a flourishing
condition, frequently having well-watered valleys around
them ; while the rest of the country exhibits a diversity of
soil, with a surface consisting of mountains, hills, wadis and
deserts; but according to the information lately collected, the
whole province is fertile, the towns and villages populous,
with abundance of water, fine date groves, &c. The mountainous
tract of Leger2 produces the celebrated frankincense.
In former times this province had three ports ;3 Mirbath,
Shabermah, and El Shahr or Shehr: the first is near the
eastern limits, and is a place of extensive commerce with the
port of Dafar or Zafar, five farsangs westward, which is celebrated
for gums, senna, &c.4 The last, El Shahr, once the
seat of the Adites, and since a flourishing port, exporting
amber, &c.5 is now a mere village of 300 fishermen, with a
fort; it belongs to the Kasafdi tribe.6 In the interior were
the ancient mountain towns, called Irem and Terim, each containing,
it is said, 10,000 inhabitants, of whom in the former
1 The late Mr. Borowski, whom I met in 1831, just after he reached Persia,
subsequently to the journey in question; soon afterwards he entered the Shah’s
service, and was killed during the protracted siege of Herat.
5 Royal Geographical Journal, vol. IX., p. 151.
3 Arabic Geo. MS. in the British Museum, translated by Dr. Sprenger.
4 Royal Geographical Journal, vol. IX., p. 151.
5 Arabic Geo. MS., translated by Dr. A. Sprenger.
' Royal Geographical Journal, vol. IX., p. 151.