Page 58 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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16 PIRATE PORTS.

water, as at other times the western end is nearly connected with the
main, and is called by the Arabs Jazirat-ool-Hamra. Anchorage in
three fathoms, sand ; with extreme of Hamra from Ras-ool-Khyma
ENE. to SW.; centre of the town SE. Between this and Shargahlie
the small ports and villages of Amulgavine, Ejman, and Fasht, all
defended by towers held by musketeers. The first of these intermediate
places consists of a group of four villages, containing together dwellings,
belonging to the tribe Ahli Ali, under Shaikh Majed bin Sultan. It
lies four leagues SW. by W. of the Jazira, between which and Shargah
(which lies in lat. 25° 24' N., eleven leagues south-west of that place)
the coast, at five miles from Amulgavine, takes a more southerly
direction.
SlIARGAII.
Shargah has five fathoms at a quarter of a- mile off shore ; the anchor­
age is with the town and fort from ESE. to SE., distant three miles, in
seven fathoms. It is defended by towers, without cannon, and a frigate
may approach to within two cables length of the shore, to the westward
of the town ; but as the soundings are irregular, it is probable there are
hidden dangers.
The piratical Dows lie in a small lagoon to the westward of the
town. A bank of sand, thrown up along this coast by the violence of
the sea, forms a good parapet for the Native matchlockmen.

Boo Haile.
Three leagues south-west of Shargah lies Boo Haile, a town of two
hundred houses, defended by towers, under Shaikh Ali Mahomed, of
the tribe Matarish.
Khor Hussan.
At two days hence are the Khiran Beniyas, or ports lying along an
extent of coast from Shargah to Huailah, a station one day’s journey south
of Khor Hussan, a port and town near the island^of Bahrein, on which
villages are very thinly scattered for two days’ journey along the sea
shore. This district stretches inland also for the same distance.

The Beniyas.
The Beniyas are a pastoral clan, of the province of Oman. They
inhabit a part of its northernmost district, called Sir, which is of a very
sandy, barren soil. It is divided into three branches ; one called
Beniyas, another Manasir, and a third Owaimir. Those who dwell in
the interior possess camels of the finest breed ; while those on the coast
have boats of a light construction, each carrying four persons, an
equipped for fishing; the produce of which is taken to the town o