'Routes in Arabia' [‎209] (242/852)

209
Route No. 55~contd.
harbour is reckoned a very good one for native craft. There
is a large and well-stocked bazar. Matrah owns 20 baghlahs and
25 badans.
Here Route No. 71, Quryat-Matrah (inland Route), joins in.
Between Matrah and Masqat there are five small villages,
but the track is only fit for pedestrians. Dikkah, adjoininp;
the east of Masqat; 100 houses, 60 camels, 70 donkeys 100
cattle, 500 sheep and goats and 250 date palms. Matairah
separated from Dikkah by a rocky mound ; the village is divided
into two parts by some rocks; 90 houses, 40 sheep and goats and
a few small boats. There is a block-house here for the defence
of Matrah. Riyam, midway between Matrah and Masqat,
at the foot of the easternmost cove of Matrah bay ; 40 houses
30 sheep and goats, 15 fishing boats. (From Riyam the route
crosses a pass, practicable for animals but difficult.) Duhah, a
few huts with a tower above them, is situated on the west side
of a promontory dividing the bays of Riyam and Kalbuh ;
20 sheep and^goats. Kalbuh, a quarter of a mile north-west
of Masqat; 15 stone houses and 20 to 30 huts situated on a small
bay between those of Matrah and Masqat. On the western point
of this bay is the Duhah tower and on the eastern, the Kalbuh
tower; 40 sheep and goats, 7 fishing boats.
At mile 15, Masqat. The town consists of a walled quarter
of 328 houses and 300 shops, outside which are suburbs with
855 houses. The town is surrounded by hills through which
there are only difficult passes defended by a system of block
houses. The population in winter, when it is' at its greatest,
is about 10,000. There is a boat-building yard where small
cargo boats can be made and larger ones repaired. The ship
ping consists of 9 baghlahs, 32 large huris for loading and unload
ing cargo, 130 small huris for the passenger traffic between
Matrah and Masqat, and a large number of fishing boats. There
are 30 cattle and 200 sheep and goats, mostly fed on fish. Supplies,
etc., all have to be imported. Masqat has a good harbour,
though landing is difficult when the shamdl is blowing. It is'
the only port of call for steamers in 'Oman except Dibai, but as
the town lies at the end of a cove surrounded by huge rocky
hills, it has only difficult means of communication with the
interior. . la trah supplies this want and is the local centre for
trade with the interior of 'Oman.