Page 191 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

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The second Gulf Survey, 1857-1860 181

CHAP. VIII.] BAHREIN.----MAHARAG. 115

From RnsRtim&n, the north-east point of the island, the const runs to
south-eastward : about three-quarters of a mile from it, is n low sandy
point, with a little fishing village, called Halat an Nani as ; beyond which
it forms a bay, the south point of which, called Rns al Jasrah, is 2
miles S.E. 4 S. from Ras Ruman. There is a village, and detached date
grove, on this point, and a fresh water spring ou the beach, below high
water level.
At this point the coast turns to the westward, forming the north side
of an extensive, shallow backwater, runuing west, about o miles into the
island. On the south side of the entrance, which is H miles wide, is a
large island called Si trail 4 miles long north and south, and broad,
with only a narrow, shallow klior between its south side and Bahrein. Its
northern half is covered with high date trees, the eastern extreme of which
terminates abruptly like a cliff or bluff. There is a village and fort of
the same name in the grove, and at the south end of the island is a small
fishing village called Mahameh. Two miles S.W. from Jasrah point is a
small islaud in the backwater about half a mile in extent, and covered
with date trees j it is called Nebbi S£leh. From Sitrah island the coast
ruus in a south and south-west direction to Ras al Bar.
INTERXOH.—Four miles from the north coast commences some
moderately elevated rocky table land (100 to loO feet), which extends
nearly across the island, and for many miles to the southward ; it is ter­
minated on all sides by little cliffs. On it, nearly 7 miles S. W., from
Manameh, stand the village and hill fort of RuFah, which has several
towers and is seen over the date trees when entering the harbour.
7EBEX. dukhan is a small lump of hills of volcanic appearance
standiug near the centre of the island, about 400 feet high ; it is level on
top, with jagged outline, and a bluff on each side. Its centre is S. J W.
nearly 12 miles from Manameh, and in clear weather it is the first land
seen from seaward.

maharao ISLAND lies to north-eastward of Bahrein, being separated
from it by a strait, in one part only a mile in breadth, and nearly all shal­
low. It consists of a strip of low sand, averaging half a mile in width, and
of horse-shoe form, the couvex side to the north ; it is 3 miles in breadth
east and west, and nearly o miles long from the north coast to the extreme
south-east point. On the south-west point lies the town of Maharag,
which is about as large and populous as Manameh, aud is about half a mile
in length and breadth. At its south end, on a small low piece of ground,
which at high wafer is separated from the town, stands a square fort with
four towers, called Maharag ; and a quarter of a mile E.S.E. of this is a
fresh water spring under the sea, having always a fathom of salt water
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