'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎479] (510/582)

PROGRESS TO RAS-EL-KHYMA.
479
appearing over a low tongue of sand, and several other boats dis
mantled and hauled up on the beach. The appearance of four
English vessels had apparently created some surprise, if not alarm,
as most of the population were collected in a crowd on the beach
as we passed.
We now hauled north-east along the coast, with a light breeze
right aft, and had regular soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. of six and seven fathoms, on a
sandy bottom, at the distance of three miles from the shore.
At noon, we had sailed about ten miles along a fiat sandy coast,
with but few trees on it; and were then just abreast of an isolated
dwelling of some size, probably once a fortified post, seated amid a
thin grove of date-trees, and called Beit Salin-el-Khamees, allu
ding, perhaps, to some story connected with the place. We were
now in latitude 25° 38' north, by observation, and longitude
55° 22' east, by account; with the house described, bearing south
east, distant about three miles, in seven fathoms water, and the
town of Jeziret-el-Hamra, just rising in sight, bearing east-north-
east, distant seven or eight miles.
We stood on north-east, along the line of the coast, and having
a fine leading breeze, were abreast of Jeziret-el-Hamra about
three o'clock, our soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. continuing at six and seven fathoms
throughout. This town is seated on a small low island of sand,
separated from the main by a strait, which is at all times fordable,
and never admits a passage for the smallest boats.
At the period of the first expedition against the strong-holds
of the Joassamees, in 1808, this was destroyed; and since
that period it has never recovered itself, the few who saved them
selves by flight having added to the population of Ras-el-Khyma
for mutual strength and security. At present, however, this place
still presents the appearance of many perfect buildings, with round
towers and walls, all seemingly of white stone, though only a few
fishermen resort here in the fair season.
The wind now slackened, and it was not until four p.m., after
sailing about two miles on a north-east course, with the same