Page 311 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

TRAVELS IN OMAN. [ch.

tures and outlines of the province may be
thus laid down. A range of mountains,
forming a part of the great chain which

almost encircles Arabia, traverses, in a direc­
tion nearly parallel to the shore, the whole

extent of the province from Maskat to Sur.
The hills take their rise close to the beach;
but to the north of that port they retire

considerably from it.

In latitude 23°, a second range, the Jebel
Akhdar, or Green Mountains, still more ele­
vated, run in a direction nearly transverse to

the former ; low parallel ridges, forming the
roots of either branch, extending to a consi­

derable distance from them. From the Jebel
Akhdar the chain continues to Ras Mus-

sendom, throwing off in its course another
branch or arm, which extends to Ras el

Khaimah, on the shores of the Persian Gulf.
The space included within this bifurcation
and the sea is broken into piles of mountains,

which are singularly disposed and of various
elevations; the width of the chain does not

in general exceed twelve or fifteen miles, and
the average height of the central or most

elevated hills is from three thousand to three