Page 156 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

146 Records of Bahrain

15th October 1032. Contrary winds prevailing and seeing no preparations for
moving on the part of the Boat Men I persuaded the Bedouins (under the pre­
text of shooting) to accompany me into the desert, intending to visit the
Pala Copas or Canal Cut by Alexander the Great from the vicinity of Hillah
to Koor Abdulla - We fell in it with it about seven miles from the Banks of
the River; it is about 150 yards wide and the banks in many places appear
to have been supported by masonry though partially filled with the sand of
the desert; sufficient remained to shew the magnitude of the undertaking -
We passed some tents of the Benu Khaled, and stopped for the night at an
encampment of the Nasara Bedouins where we were treated with camel's flesh,
boiled rice and butter milk.
16th October 1832. We returned to the Beeglah, We were detained at Moanir
until the 25th by S.E. Gales.
26th October 1032. On rising this morning I was agreeably surprised by
finding the Arabs in the act of weighing their anchor the wind having
changed during the night to North West, We stood out of the river and
anchored in the Evening under the lee of Arar, an extensive sand bank
20 miles from the mouth of the river. I had given the Bedouins a Sheep
I had purchased which they finished in the course of the day including the
entrails which they eat unwashed.
27th October 1832. Weighed in the morning and nearly ran on shore on a
Coral Reef through the stupidity of the Nakhoda but were saved as the Arabs
told me by the mercy of God, and the assistance of the Prophet. We came to
in the evening at Moshaub (Ras al-Mish'ab).
28th October 1032. It blowing rather freshly the Arabs unwilling to tempt
Providence after their escape of yesterday, were determined not to weigh
till after the North West had subsided; we were here joined by five boats
from Kowait or Grain. From one of these vessels a young Arab of the name
of Thowanee took his passage with us; he described himself as an Arab of
•the Monaseer tribe, attached to Torkee Ben Sahoud. He seemed anxious to
insinuate himself into my confidence, but thinking his designs sinister,
I avoided him as much as possible; his manners however, were so plausible,
that I could hardly avoid being pleased with him.
29th October 1832. Weighed with a light northerly breeze. In the afternoon
it became cloudy, and blew at intervals in strong gusts, from all quarters
of the compass. The Arabs frightened held a Consultation, in which the
majority were for putting back to Moshaub, while the rest were for turning
their heads to seaward, to avoid the Coral Reefs which abound between Moshaub
and Elkatiff; the affair was settled by the elements throwing us on shore on
a Coral* Bank. Fortunately there was little Sea, and we floated off with the
night flood; the bottom was so much damaged that we with difficulty made
Katiff where they hauled her up on the beach.
30th October 1832. Finding the repairs required by the Boat would occupy
more time than I chose to waste, I determined on proceeding by land to
Ajeer ('Uqayr) and persuaded the Bedouins to accompany me, we hired camels
at Katiff, and set out in the morning. We stopped at about 7 in the evening
at a well of brackish water, the country through which we had passed during
the day was generally a sandy desert, excepting in the immediate vicinity of
Elkatiff which abounds in gardens and springs.

♦This ridge was between Boo Allee (Abu A11) and Ras Sanura (Ras Tannurah).