Page 88 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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ISLAND OF KENN.

Having lately proceeded to the island of Kenn, we have the honour
to submit the following Report, in which the several-quarters of the island
are separately described, as represented in the accompanying Sketch,
namely,—

A.—THE WEST, NORTH-WEST, AND SOUTII-WEST SIDES.

This part contains three villages, built near date plantations; one is
near the south-west point, and is called Bauk ; another at the north­
west, Suffeel; the third does not appear to bear any name, and is about
midway between the other two; the distance between these two
extremes being nearly three and a quarter miles.
These villages are provided with wells, which supply the population,
and also irrigate the grain fields and date trees. Some of the water is
good ; the remainder is indifferent, and mostly brackish.
The country for about three miles in their vicinity is moderately
elevated above the sea, and nearly level, as it ascends very gradually
from the sea coast to the central and higher part of the island. It is
partially covered with trees, which are more numerous inland, and the
ground is also clearer on the coast, having only small tufts of coarse
grass, the inland part being rocky and stony.
The coast is of a bluff and rocky nature, with some small sandy bays;
but being bounded by a rocky shelf, dry in many places at low-water,
and which extends not less than a quarter of a mile, tolerable landing
is afforded in these bays at high-water only, for light boats, and that
in moderate weather.
There is no good anchorage for ships off this part of the island, the
bottom being coarse sand, with patches of coral, It is exposed to
a heavy swell during a moderate north-west wind, but may be safe to
approach to eight or ten fathoms, a mile and a quarter or a mile and a
half off shore.

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