Page 204 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

X.] COAST OF ARABIA. 185

met with in the Red Sea. It is brought from
wells near the fort, about three miles in the

interior, on asses and camels, or by women.
I observe on this coast that, with the excep­

tion of the Hute’imi tribe, among whom youth
forms no exception, Arab females are rarely
found engaged in manual labour until they
have passed the middle age. Wej-h is fur­
nished with an abundant supply and a great
variety of excellent fish.
The ranges of reefs parallel to the shore,
through which it is necessary to proceed in
approaching other shermson this coast, would
probably deter mariners from visiting them,

unless in cases of necessity; but Wej-h is
free from this disadvantage. In approaching
it, the island Rikhah, which lies off the
entrance of the harbour, at a distance of
seven miles, forms an excellent mark for
entering.
On the day of our arrival we received a
visit from the principal sheikh of the Bill
tribe, Sheikh Amir. His power extends
inland six days’ journey, and coastwise from
Sheikh Morabit to the southward as far as
Hasani. The general appellation of the