'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎571] (662/905)

CHAP. XXII.]
OR RED SEA.
571
Jebel Sabyar, Jezerat Gootna, Jebel Momed, Sarso, Jezerat Wands of the
Deesan, Farsan. Seggeer, Farsan Kebir, Goomak, Doomsook, Red Sea '
Tokaillah, Hammar, Entookjasli, Kotama, and Jebel Teer, an
active volcano 900 feet higli; also Humreek, Ockbane, Kamran,
and Zebayer, wliicli are likewise volcanic. Lastly, the islands
of Jebel Zoogur, Uarnisli, and Perim, tlie last being situated
in tlie Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb. These, and thousands of
islets between them, are coral formations, and are constantly
increasing; the bed of the sea itself is also covered with coral,
and from hence is derived the Hebrew name, Bahr-souph
(Sea of Sea-weed). The islands, with almost the single ex
ception of Kamran, being deprived of harbours, they become
a serious impediment to any navigation but that of steam, and
the vessels have to pass up and down a narrow sea which has
been aptly compared by Strabo to a salt river; that writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping.
describes it as full of rocks, enclosed by high mountains, and
into which no river, and scarcely any rain falls. Owing to the winds,
barriers formed on each side by the mountains, the changes of
the seasons cause a strong north-west wind to prevail down the
Red Sea from the middle of May, with little or no intermission
till September, and upwards, or towards Suez, during the rest
of the year; and experience has taught the Arabs here, as in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , to commence their annual voyages towards
the close of the favourable monsoon, and return with the next,
so as to have a fair wind along either the African or Arabian
shore. Although this trade includes the principal as well as
the inferior places along both coasts, it must of necessity be
limited, but at the same time it is cheap and certain.
The existence of a fresh-water lake at El Asha, 1 and
several in Nejd, as ascertained by Captain Sadleir, has esta
blished the fidelity of Strabo in this particular. 2 There are
others, but of small size, in Arabia Felix, in Tehameh, 3 and in
'Oman, and one called Salome has recently been discovered by
Monsieur Chedufau and Colonel Mary in Ahkaf. 4 But the rest
of the surface of Arabia appears to be without any thing like
1 "Vol. III., p- 464, of the Bombay Literary Society. 2 Lib. XVI., p. 773.
8 ' Niehbuhr's Travels in Arabia, translated by Robert Heron, vol. I., p. 297.
4 Bulletin de la Society de Geographic de Paris, 1843, p. 101.
4 D 2