Page 213 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

V.

194 COAST OF ARABIA. [CII.

quantities from the Bedowins, who bring it
from a small village about three miles distant
•I
in the interior; and near the extremity of the

sherm some dhourrah is cultivated. Bearing
west from Sherm 'Abban is the island of
;>:• Merddnah, remarkable for its appearance
and formation. A narrow ridge of coral is
detached into pointed masses, varying in
height from two to three hundred feet, of
I which the cliffs and hollows afford shelter and
breeding-places to numerous flocks of wild
pigeons.
The broken and rugged appearance of Mer-
ddnah has given rise to a singular tradition
among the Arabs. They believe it to be the

abode of spirits, who resort there in order to
amuse themselves at night with hurling rocks
at each other.
From R&s Gharkumah to Ras Abu Medd
the coast is fronted by a group of low sandy
islets and reefs, connected together by an ex­
tensive bank of soundings, interspersed with
isolated rocks. Boats frequent the interme­

diate channels, but no ship could venture to
navigate them. One of these islands retains
the name of Sheikh Morabit, from an old