Page 612 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

568 NAVIGATION OF THE

the people entirely neglect it. The island also produces citrons, pome-
granates, mulberries, dates, figs, melons, and other fruits ; also'
several
kinds of vegetables. Cattle and poultry arc
also procurable, but rather
dear, being brought from other places. The cloth bazar is pretty well
supplied.

The islands of Muharag, Arad, and Samahoy arc twelve miles round
and only separated at very high spring tides. They have a few date
plantations on them, and about seven thousand five hundred inha­
bitants. There is very little water on them, most of that used being
brought from Bahrein. There are two forts or Ghurees, one at
Muharag, the other at Arad. Munama town is in lat. 26° 13' 50" N.,
long. 50° 36' 50" E.
The Shaikh has five war Buggalows, but can fit out fifteen or twenty.
One of these is of about four hundred tons, and mounts twenty-two
guns. The fortifications are a Glmree at Muharag, on a sandy point,
containing six or eight guns, and commanding the channel; two others,
one at Arad and another at Samahoy, and a ruinous wall round the
town. On Bahrein are Raftar, seven miles from Munama, and about
fifty other Ghurees, with a number of towers in different parts; but
their best defences are those supplied by nature in the reefs that sur­
round the islands, as five hundred determined men might oppose the
landing of as many thousands.

TRADE OF BAHREIN.
The following is an account of the exports and imports of Bahrein,
in the year 1824, as stated by the Company’s Broker and the Shaikh’s
Vizier :—
Exports. Imports.
German Crowns. From Hindoostan.
Pearls to India............... 1,200,000 German Crowns.
Ditto to Arabia, Turkey, Rice from Mangalore, 60,000
and Bussora............. 300.000 Morahs .............................. 65.000
Ditto to Persia............... 100.000 Rice from Bengal, 8,000 bags. 24,000
Sugar, 600 bags......... 12.000
Various Articles, to India, Sind, Sfc.
Sugarcandy, 500 tubs 5.000
Dry dates......... 15,000 10,000
Pepper, 400 morahs. .
Tortoise-shell .. 3,500 Solder or block tin .. 2.000
Bahrein canvas 3.000 Iron, 5,000 bars......................10>000
Shark-fins .... 2.000 Lead, 2,000 pigs ................. 2,400
To Persia. Steel, 100 tubs.....................
Plank, and ship timber .... 17,000
Bahrein canvas 3,000 ri . .... 5,000
Mats................ 1,200