'Gazetteer of Arabia Vol. II' [‎1183] (232/688)

MASlRAH
1183
From Ras Abu Rasas, the eastern shore of the island trends north-eastward 10| miles
to Ras Kaidah, with small rocky points and sandy bays intervening ; the hills rising
abruptly from the beach. Ras Dtharri is a projecting rocky point 6 miles north-eastwad
of Ras Abu Rasas ; Jabal Dtharri is just within it. The shore, northward of the reefs
already mentioned is fairly bold, there being nowhere less than 5 fathoms within one mile
of the shore, and though the shore has a narrow rocky fringe there are no outlying dangers
until off Ras K^idah.
From Ras Kaidah to Ras Zafarnat, 16 miles distant in a north-easterly direction, the
coast recedes slightly, but is regular, with a low rocky beach, and with only one small
sandy point occurring bet .veen the points named. The shore is safe to approach, the
soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. being regular and there being no hidden danger.
Reefs.— About 8 cables south-westward from the point is the small breaking patch
Shab Abu Rasas, with 5 and 6 fathoms water between it and the point. Shab Matraih,
a coral reef with from 3 to 6 feet water, extends U miles westward of Shab Abu Rasas
but a narraw 5 fathoms channel divides them. At 1J and 2| miles east-south-eastward
from the point and within the 10-fathoms line are two other reefs, the nearest having
depths of 2 fathoms, the other 4 or 5 fathoms. As the sea frequently breaks on all these
reefs the southern point of the island should not be approached to less than 3 miles.
lias Kaidah. —(Lat. 20° 16' N. Long. 58° 47'E.) Is a small rooky point which
mav be known by a black double-peaked hill rising close to it. The shore reef extends
about 7 cables from the Ras in a north-easterly direction, with only a few feet water
over it, and breaking down to 4.j and 6 fathoms at its outer edge.
Reef.—A coral reef lies If miles eastward of Ras Kaidah, with depths of 3 to 5 fathom
water, and with from 7 to 10 fathoms between it and the shore. When the sea is smooth
there is no indication of shoal water but with the slightest swell the sea breaks heavily.
Vessels should therefore avoid anchoring on this or any shallow bank round the island.
Hakkan. This small village is in a date grove close to the beach, 4 or 5 miles north
ward of the Ras Kaidah. About 4 miles northward of Hakkan is the narrow central part
of the island where it is only 4 miles across from shore to shore, the land consisting of
low undulating hills.
Supplies. Fresh water is procurable at the village of Hakkan, also a few pumpkins.
Rds Zafarndt. —Less than 2 miles south-westward of Ras Yai, is a rocky point from
which the hills rise abruptly.
Rds Yai (Latitude 20° 32' North, Longitude 58° 58' East), the eastern extreme of
Masirah island, is a bluff point formed by a ridge of hills extending eastward from the
centre of the island, of which Jabal Mahrub, 620 feet high, is the highest, most cons-
picuous. and of obtuse form. The depths off Ras Yai are 15 fathoms at one mile, the
edge of the bank in 100 fathoms being 10 miles off shore. From this point the land trends
in a north by west direction for 10 miles to Ras Jidufah at the northern end of the island.
Ras-al-J ezlrah —Is a rocky point 3J miles north-north-westward of Ras Yai, between
which two points the shore is rocky but free from danger, though the depth is under
3 fathoms when loss than 5 cables from the shore, and a 5 fathoms patch surrounded by
7 and 8 fathoms lies 1^ miles off shore from the centre of the bay. It derives its name
from a sandy islet called Jezlrat Janzi, lying close o£E and northward of it. The point
is prominently marked by a black cove.
From Ras-al-Jezirah, the shore curves westward and then northward, forming a
bay between it and Ras Jidufah, 7 miles distant.
Rds Jidufah. —(Latitude 20° 42' N. Long. 58° 55' E.) Ras Jidufah, the
north-eastern extreme of the island, is a rocky point with two horns 5 cables apart, and
a slight indentation between them; a hill of the same name rises immediately from
the shore of the bay. Off *his double point, a reef extends half a mile, with shallow
water at its edge ; the point should therefore not be approached m any direction near
er than one mile.
R ee f. In the bay between Ras Jezlrah and Ras Jidufah is a rock awash at low water
U miles from the shore, with the southern horn of Ras Jidufah bearing N. \ _W. 4J
miles • close round the rocks the depths are and 4 fathoms. The soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. m the bay
are regular, there being from 7 to 9 fathoms at 2 miles ofi shore, the depths decreasing
gradually towards it.