Page 56 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 4,5

WTRICTS AND TOWNS ia:i

xVCns in the town are brackish ; but good water is brought,
1 " .'in-cisterns or from wells and springs 7 miles away. Thorn
! r* "'J iter-condenser in the town which works irregularly, and it**
- ,i
Inn-eel water, being taken from a foul part of the harbour, often
, <>ll<
bad smell and taste ; it can turn out about 30 tons a day 1
■ rice at the condenser works out at about 8s. 6d. a ton, but
"much again has to be paid for transport in the town in snu»||
' u i ntitics. On the quarantine island there is a smaller condenser,
'J i'(j (o turn out about 15 tons a day, supplying certain individual**
'lM(l not the general public ; the price of its water works out at
c | k;iS.. 8d. per ton, including transport to shore. The price of goo*|
.Iriiiking-water from wells and springs varies down to about 10a.
per ton, including transport; in 1912 it stood at the extraordinarily
bj<di rate of about £1 a t'on. At that time, and for two years pre
viously, there had been practically no rain-water from cisterns ;
when there is any, its price is generally about l&s. per ton, including
I ransport.
The bazaar (southern quarter) is well supplied. A petroleum
engine for a flour-mill, turning out about 18 cwt. of hour daily, was
reported to have been set up and to be working in 1912 ; it is of
British manufacture. A portable hospital, made of compressed
paper and well equipped, was set up by the Turkish Government,
in 1911 outside the town for the accommodation of 100 pilgrims.
The climate of Jiddah, though hot, is not unhealthy, the sea-breeze
counteracting to some extent the insanitary condition of streets
and houses; but mortality is high, and bubonic plague to some
extent probably endemic. Residence of Consuls (northern quarter) ;
telegraph to Mecca ; cable (not working) to Suakin.

., 14. Lith, a village, about 1£ miles inland from the anchorage,
l he houses are of mud, and the town possesses a blockhouse,
barracks, and a mosque; water is obtainable, as well as a few
yheep and fowls. The coast in the neighbourhood is low, sandy, and
fronted by coral, and is covered in some parts by bush, but,
mountains rise inland and to the northward. The anchorage
•-nail but well protected by the reef, which extends nearly £ mile
° mosque, and by two reefs eastward of it; the best entrance
'r aPParently that close eastward of the mosque reef, where the
( ePths are from 4 to 6 fathoms (mud). To the W. of the inner
anchorage is Agha islet, which is small, low, and sandy, and has on
f ^v®ra.l> houses. The outer anchorage is from £ to 1 mile SSW.
*li'U8 i *n from 10 14 fathoms (mud); but there is m*
^rhere from northerly or north-westerly winds.
°* Mecca, the chief town of Hejaz and the holy city of Islam,