Page 214 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 6 -10

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CHAPTER IX

THE GULF COAST
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This chapter is concerned with the countries of the Arabian
littoral from Turkish ‘Iraq in the N. to the promontory of Oman
in the SE. They are separated from Central Arabia along their
whole length on the W. by desert tracts, but connected with Nejd
and Jebel Shammar by caravan routes more pi'acticable for the
trader than those which start from the Red Sea. Beginning from
the N. the territories in question are as follows : the Sultanate of
Koweit, the Province of Hasa, the Principality of BaJhrein, the
Peninsula of El-Qatar, and the group of sheikhdoms known as
Trucial Omhn. The coast is the chief centre of the pearl industry ;
and its increasing trade with India lends it a high significance for
the British Empire. As the only good harbour in the north,
Koweit may attain enhanced political and commercial importance
by the completion of the Baghdad Railway.

a. sultAnate of koweit

Area

This principality is bounded on the E. by the Persian Gulf,
and on the N. by Turkish territory, the frontier running from
Umm Qasr to Safwan and thence past Jebel Sanani to the Batin.
The W. boundary follows the Batin to Hafar, where it turns. SE.,
:• along the line between Summan and Dahanah to the point where it
:• is cut by the route from Koweit town to Riyadh by way of Wabrah.
It here turns NE. to the NW. corner of the Hasa tract of Rada If,
whence it runs E. to the coast near Jebel Manifah. Its maximum
length is about 190 miles, and its maximum breadth about 30 miles
less. For the extent to which the Sultan’s authority is disputed on
its inland boundaries, sec p. 39.

Physical Character

The soil to N. of Koweit Bay is gravelly; in the S. it is part sand
and part clay, but everywhere it is sterile and devoid of striking

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