Page 89 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

KEN N. 47

B.—THE NORTH SIDE.
This quarter comprises the ground between the villages of Suffeel
and Bey, distant three and a quarter miles. Almost midway, but nearer
to the latter, are the ruins of a considerable town, said to have been
built by the Portuguese.
In regard to water, the description given of it at Suffeel applies to
that procured at the village of Dey.
The country here is also nearly similar to that on the west side,
except that it is a little more elevated near Suffeel.
The coast is also bluff and rocky, with a few sandy bays ; the rocky
shelf still continuing round it, but having deeper water on it. There is
tolerably good landing at low-water in the bays above mentioned,
during moderate weather.
The anchorage for ships is in six fathoms, sandy bottom, about one
mile off shore, but it is not sheltered from the prevailing westerly
winds.
C.—THE NORTH-EAST AND EASTERN SIDES.

There are no inhabitants in this quarter, but a few ruins of an old
village are visible on the east side.
There are a number of wells in the low ground, the water of which
is at this time brackish.
The elevated part of the island commences near this coast, and the
summit of it is extremely rocky and irregular ground. The space
between it and the beach is low and sandy ; it is partially covered
with trees, as on the other sides.
Nearly the whole of this coast has a fine sandy beach ; the anchorage
for ships is in six and seven fathoms, sandy bottom, one mile off shores
and is well sheltered, except from easterly winds.

D.—THE SOUTH SIDE.
This side is uninhabited just now, but there are some ruins and a
small date grove near the east point, and also a few houses, in which
are lodged the cattle that are occasionally grazing there, near the centre
of the south coast.
There are a few wells at these two places, with pretty good water,
owing, probably, to its not having been much drawn, there being no
irrigation carried on, and the cattle, therefore, alone supplied with it.
The country is generally level, and is nearly the same on the western
part, except that it is more stony, and in some places more elevated,
especially in the centre, before alluded to. The whole of the ground
is interspersed with trees and bushes. The coast is similar to that on
the north side.