Page 603 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

GULF OF PERSIA. 559

Has Aboo al Mashuit.
Ras Aboo al Mashuit is a low point, in lat. 25° 15' 10" N., long.
51° 37' 20" E. The soundings oil' here arc rather irregular, from
two and three quarters to five fathoms.
Ras Boo Aboot.
Ras Boo Aboot, the SE. boundary of Al Bidder Harbour, is in lat.
25° 17' N., long. 51° 35' E. The reef that forms the southern side
of the entrance to Al Bidder Harbour runs out two miles from this
point, and continues along shore, running ofF about one mile, until
it joins Fasht al Anief.
Jezeerat al Suffic.
Jezeerat al Suflic is a low, semicircular, sandy island, its west point
being in lat. 25° 19' 40" N., long. 51° 35' E. A reef runs from it in
a southerly direction, and from the northern entrance to Al Bidder
Harbour, in a northerly direction, it runs up as high as Ras Reccan, its
distance off shore varying from one to seven miles.
Al Bidder Town.
Al Bidder Town is in lat. 25° 16' 50" N., long. 51° 33' E. It is
situated at the bottom of a harbour, formed by the reefs before mentioned.
The entrance is only half a mile wide, having three and four fathoms
water in it in mid-channel, and rather less towards the northern reef,
and towards the southern two fathoms. As the shoals show themselves
distinctly, to enter the harbour you must be guided by them, keeping
rather nearer to the northern one. The narrow part is not more than
half a mile in length. When through, steer for the town, and anchor
abreast the eastern tower, in three and a half fathoms, about half a
mile off shore. This place contains about four hundred Arabs of the
Nahune, Dooasir, and Abookara Tribes, and is frequented by the
Monasir and other wandering tribes. In the pearl season the inhabit­
ants arc augmented to about twelve hundred, it being convenient to the
banks, and so completely sheltered. The people are mostly fishermen;
they have one or two trading boats, and, like all other inhabitants of this
coast, take a large share in the pearl fishery. They are subject to
Bahrein. Cattle and poultry are procurable here, but they are very dear.
Water, pretty good, can also be procured. The defences are a small
Ghuree in the town, two or three towers, indifferent, and a Ghuree a
mile to the north-westward of the town, on the rising ground.*

* Due east of Al Bidder, about twelve miles, is a small patch, with only a fathom and a
half on it. We traversed for it one whole day, but could not hit onitj a good look-out is
necessary. In the chart a dotted line shows the part within which it lies.

'