Page 242 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

XI.] COAST OF ARABIA. 223

The difficulty of egress, which can only be
effected by a southerly or land-wind, is a dis­
advantage which the harbour of Yembo* la­

bours under, in common with many others on
the coast. That part on which the town stands
is low and sandy, but in the interior there are
hills of considerable elevation. The bold and
lofty range over the town, called by the na­
tives Jebel Rad wall, but more generally known
to navigators as the " Yembo' hills,” is a col­
lection of mountainous ridges running nearly
parallel to each other, and terminating in
broken rugged peaks. Their general direc­
tion lies nearly north and south, and they are
nearly of the same height, while following
the direction of the coast, which runs more to
the eastward and westward.

From the town of Yembo’, which may be
seen at the distance of six or seven miles, the
coast-line southward as far as Sherm Barei-
kah is low, marshy, and thickly overrun with
mangrove-trees*. Yembo* is principally sup­
plied with fire-wood from this tract; the trees
are felled, and permitted to remain in the sun
until they are perfectly dried. It is some-

* Rhizophora (t. e. root-bearer) Mangl6.