Page 137 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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DESCRIPTION OF THE ARABIAN COAST. 95

DESCRIPTION OF THE ARABIAN COAST.
!
From Kowcit to Dhabran, a ruined position, four Furseeklis north of
Kateef, the country bears the name of Adan. It
Memoranda, collected js generally void of towns, but in the summer,
SSSi some of the Beni Khalid Arabs, as the Amayir
of Arabia from the mouth and Sobaik, inhabit Fantas and Fanaitis, two
of the River Euphrates to
the Ports of the Beniyas; by positions on the coast, a day’s distance south of
Colonel R. Taylor, Politi- Kowcit. Three days further on, in the same
cal Agent, Turkish Arabia.
February, 1836. direction, is the island Balbul, slightly separated
from the shore during the time of flood. Two ■
days south-east of Balbul is the island of Jinnah, similar to the last.
South of this, three days, is the island Boo All, with a long point
running into the sea, and a flat shallow between it and the shore, as the
island last mentioned. Further south-eastward, by one day, is Ras
-
Tannurah ; a day south-east of this is Kateef. The whole country just
traced is called Adan. Kateef, however, and its district southward
to Ojair, together with the territory of Bahrein and A1 Ahsa, and
the country between the last and Ojair,—all this tract is denominat­
ed Hajar. Kateef, though, is also peculiarly named A1 Khah ;
Bahrein, Awal; and A1 Ahsa, Haajar. From Ojair to the ports of the
Beniyas, the country is named Qatar, and is so called from the greater
fall of rain therein than in the other portions of the Beni Khalid territory.
Ojair is about four Furseekhs south-east of Bahrein; on the coast, half
a day south-east of this, is a tract of land inhabited by the Beni Khalid
Arabs in the spring and autumn, and containing shallow wells, or
springs of water. Two days hence is Zabara, a place forty years past
of some note, and considerable population and trade. One Furseekh i
south of this is Ras Ashairij; three Furseekhs hence north-east Khor
Hassan, the residence of the Yalahermah, a division of the Atul Arabs;
hence, a day north-east, is Huailah. Two Furseekhs onwards is Yusa-
fiah; then four Furseekhs to Rowaidhah ; two days south of this station
is Fuwairit; south-east hence, a day, is Matbakh. Two hours south of
Matbakh commences a tract of land, composed of sandy hillocks, and
uninhabited for an extent of four days in length from north to south;
from this, south-eastward, lie the ports of the Beniyas, the commence-
ment of the province of Oman, and the end of that of Hajar. The
whole of these districts, Adan, Hajar, and Qatar, from Koweit to the
ports of the Beniyas, belong to the Beni Khalid.
A day to the westward of Koweit is Jahrah, situated two Furseekhs
south-eastward of the angle of a bay. Its site is elevated, and gives a
view of all vessels passing in the Gulf near Koweit, and the island of