'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎108] (150/733)

108
BIDDAII—WUKRA—ADEED.
Biddah.
Biddah, inhabited principally by the Soodan Tribe, is situated on the
south side of a bay, formed by two dangerous reefs running out to the
sea, and approaching at their extremities so near to each other as to
leave little more than room for a ship of the size of a sloop of war to be
warped through. Once inside, however, the anchorage is safe, and a
vessel of war can lie within something less than a mile from the town
which contains about three hundred houses, and could muster six or
seven hundred fighting men.
Lieutenant Grubb, I. N., in 1822, described Biddah " as a most
miserable place : not a blade of grass nor any kind of vegetation near it;
the water good, procured, they said, at some distance. The anchorage
in the inner harbour very good, four fathoms, being about one-eighth of
a mile from the shore, surrounded by a reef nearly dry, which forms a
complete basm, the entrance to which is very narrow, but deep, and
fiee trom danger. Not so in approaching it, as the water is very shoal
about seven miles out, there being two and a half fathoms, sand, and
a good deal of sea in a north-wester."
Wukra.
The town of Wukra did not exist at the time of the survey, having
heen since erected by the present Chief, Ali bin Nasir, who, with his
tribe (the Boo Ejman) formerly resided in Biddah, but having offended
the Uttoobee Shaikh, the dwellings of himself and followers were
estroyed by that chief, who contemplated their forcible transfer to
ah rein. To avoid this offensive arrangement, Ali bin Nasir and his
troe took possesion of the site of their present residence, at the foot of
J u 3 ml Wukra. The town is situated upon the open sea beach, which,
however, cannot be approached nearer than three miles by our vessels
of war in consequence of the coast being lined by a shallow and danger
ous reef. Its fortifications consist of a small square fort, flanked by
three towers, in the centre of the town, which is surrounded on the
land side by a wall, with a tower on either side. Beyond the walls are
two others detached, one of which, upon a slight elevation, commands
the wells which supply the inhabitants with water. The place con
tains about 250 houses, and, including the pearl fishers and the Be
douins occasionally residing there, can collect upon emergency between
live and six hundred fighting men,
Adeed.
Adeed, on the Guttur Coast, situated on the eastern side of the
entiance of the breakwater, and at the foot of the hill of that name.