Page 587 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

GULF OF PERSIA. 543

them is rather curved and low, fronted by an
The coast between
extensive coral reef, commencing soon after passing Al Hamra and
ending off the creek of Amulgavine. A vessel in passing this should
not come under seven fathoms in the night; in the day-time the reef
shows itself. The backwater is formed by what is an island at high
tides, and the point on which the ruined town stands.
The present town of Libini is situated on this island, and contains
about six hundred inhabitants, of the Al Ali Tribe, subject to the
Shaikh of Shargah : they take a share in the pearl fishery, and have a
few trading boats. Supplies of cattle, very good, are procurable ;
water is also to be had, and the most delicious fish are in great plenty;
but the inhabitants are indolent in the extreme, and seldom go to fish,
unless driven by necessity. I was on shore among them surveying the
backwater for nearly three weeks, and found them generally civil, but
eager to impose on me. They were in 1822 strict Wahabees, and the
Shaikh did not seem to be at all pleased with the present state of things.
The best anchorage is with the square house on Libini E. by S. £ S.,
in five or six fathoms ; but the anchorage is very bad, being a bottom
of sand and rock ; high-water at llh. 40m.
Ejman.
Ejman, in lat. 25° 25' 12" N., long. 55° 33' E., bears from Amulgavine
S. 37° 10' W., fourteen miles ; is situated on the southern bank of a
backwater,—one of the best on the coast, having a better entrance than
any other. There are five feet on the bar at low-water, and about ten
to fourteen feet inside. The rise of tide is much the same as at other
places, except when influenced by the wind, when it will rise one or
two feet higher. It is high-water full and change at llh. 20m.
The town is small, and in 1822 had a fortified house belonging to the
Shaikh; but I believe its defences have been increased since, It con-
tains, during the pearl season, from fourteen to seventeen hundred men,
of the Mahamee Tribe. During the date season most of them retire to
a place named Brahamee, distant a day’s journey inland. The Shaikh,
Rashid bin Ahmed, is independent, but the Shaikh of Shargah does not
acknowledge it, although he has no power over him. They are mostly
strict Wahabees.
Fresh water is procurable about half a mile from the town. The best
anchorage is abreast the creek, in five fathoms, about a mile and a quarter
off shore ; just without the line of three fathoms is a rocky bank, with
only two fathoms on it. Between this and Shargah the coast is nearly
straight, with regular soundings from three to five fathoms, sand and
rocks. About one mile from Shargah Creek entrance is the ruined vil-
lage of Fasht, having a small creek for their fishing-boats, and inhabited
by a lew fishermen.

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