'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.' [‎485] (516/582)

MOUNTAINS NEAR RAS-EL KHYMA.
485
chief article of food both for the people and their cattle. At
the termination of this flat plain, which may extend, in its vari
ous windings, from ten to twenty miles back, there rises a lofty
range of apparently barren mountains. The highest point of their
broken summits was estimated to be about six thousand feet
above the level of the sea, and their general aspect was that of
lime-stone; but we could obtain no specimens or fragments of
it. White strata were seen running horizontally near the sum
mits, preserving every where a perfect level, though the summits
themselves were ragged and uneven. The highest point of these
hills was nearly behind Ras-el-Khyma, in a south-east direction;
to the north-east the ridge fell gradually, until it terminated in the
capes of Khassab and Shahm, set in the bearings of our anchor
age ; and to the south-west it tapered away almost to a level with
the plain, and lost itself in the Arabian Desert.
In these mountains live a people called Sheeheeheen, who
are distinguished from all around them by having fair com
plexions, light hair, and blue eyes, like Europeans, and by speak
ing a distinct language, which no one but themselves understand,
and which has been compared by those who have heard it to the
cackling of a hen. They live both in villages and in tents, and
acknowledge a Sheik of their own body as Chief. They have three
towns near the coast, between Ras-el-Khyma and Cape Mus-
sunndom, called Shahm, Khassab, and Jaadi, each of which gives
its name to the nearest headland. These, however, are hardly
considered to be ports, since the Sheeheeheen possess no trading
or war-vessels, and only use the sea in fishing for the supply of
their own immediate wants. Most of them speak Arabic, besides
their own language, and they are all strict Mussulmans of the
Soonnee sect, having hitherto successfully resisted the efforts of
the Wahabees to effect their conversion.
The anchorage off Ras-el-Khyma is an open roadstead, ex
posed to all the fury of the northerly and north-west winds,
which prevail in the Gulf, and throw a heavy sea into this bay