Page 188 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

178 Records of Bahrain

112 Arabian coast; ras rekken to jkzi'ret bubivan. [cm. Till.

a»aRE!N island (formerly called Awal) is about27 miles in length
north and south, by 10 in breadth. Towards the centre, there is some
slightly elevated rocky table land ; and, 12 miles from the north end, is a
small mass of volcanic hills called Jebcl Dukhan, about 400 feet high,
visible 21 miles, and forming in a square lump. The shores of the island
are low, and along the north end is a belt, 2 or 3 miles wide, of very
fertile land, with abundant fresh wafer springs, and covered with date
groves, &c. The principal town, called Man dm eh, is at the north-east
corner ; and is the capital of the chief of the great Uttubi tribe. The
total population of the islauds is estimated by Captain Kemball,* at
50,000. Excepting the northern portion, great part of the island is
barren, but there many villages in different parts.
MANAMEH, a large town on the north-east point of the island with
perhaps 8,000 inhabitants, is built along the shore for about three-quar­
ters of a mile ; the houses are mostly poor ; ,hc only conspicuous buildin"
being the Sheik’s house, which is a high semi-fortified building near the
west end of the town, on which the flag is shown : close to the east of it is
a «mall minaret, only seen when in the inner anchorage. The north-east
oint of the town, forming the left extreme, is called Ras Riimtfn : half
a mile south of this, is a clump of dates behind the town standing on a
little rising ground.
The landing at the town, though better than at any other part
of the island, is inconvenient, except at high water ; the shore reef being
very shelving, boats cannot come within a quarter of a mile" of the
beach at low water. Donkeys arc always brought down to assist persons

• Lately Political Resident in the Persian gulf.