Page 656 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

612 NAVIGATION OF THE

long. 50° 23' E. Its widest part is two and a half miles
ovcr, and
soundings two to four fathoms. It is composed of rocks and
sand.
Fasht el Nowaii.
The centre of the dry part of Fasht el Nowali is in lat. 26° 32' 10" N
long. 50° 19' 30" E. It extends N. by W. and S. by E. live miles, its
widest part east and west being three and a half miles. It is more
than half dry, and the other part has one to two fathoms on it. It fronts
Kateef Bay, and there is a channel with four and five fathoms
water
between it and the Fasht el Yarron, or Teignmouth Shoal.
Rocky Bank.

The centre of a rocky bank, with soundings from nine to ten fathoms,
and eighteen to the northward and fifteen to the southward is in
lat. 26° 53' 50" N., long. 50° 49' E. It has no danger.
Rocky Bank.
Another rocky bank, with over-falls from six to twenty fathoms on its
centre, lies in lat. 26° 54' N., long. 51° E. It extends to E. by N. and
W. by S. about six miles each way.

Overfall Bank.
Overfall Bank is a rocky bank, extending from lat. 2G° 48' N.,
long. 51° 8' E., to lat. 26° 36' N., long. 51° 45' E., and has soundings
of from nine to twenty fathoms on it, rocky bottom.

THE PEARL BANK.
The Pearl Bank commences at the island of El Ivron, and continues,
varying in breadth, to abreast of the town of Shargah. Its widest part
is among what are called Mandes Islands, and the narrowest olTJazcerat
Boo Ali. The richest fishing grounds are what are usually termed the
Bahrein Banks : they extend from lat.. 27° N., long. 50° E., to the
eastern end of Overfall Bank, The Overfall Bank is one of the richest,
but is only fished in very fine weather, being deep water, and far oil
shore ; next to it is the Epherah Bank, where some of the most valuable
on
pearls have been found. About three thousand boats are at times out
the banks, and each boat contains from five to fourteen men. As the
banks are free for all, so all the maritime people of the Gulf take a
share in the fishery; and it is an enlivening scene to see the boats at
anchor, and sailing about—all employed. The whole of the Pearl an v
is composed of broken corally rock and sand; in a few places )ou
a patch of mud. The soundings are in most parts irregular, from
twenty-two to four fathoms.

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