'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.' [‎637] (736/905)

CHAP. XXIV.]
HADRAMAUT.
637
place there were 3000 spearmen. 1 Hadramaut was once the
chief place, and at four days from thence is Shibam, the more shibam.
recent capital. The last is a fortress, situated on the slope of
Mount Moham, which is covered to the summit with villages,
fields, and palm-trees ; and is celebrated for its beautiful cor
nelians, amethysts, and onyxes. 2 Four miles north-westward
of Shehr is Suku-el-Basir, a town of 4500 inhabitants, with Suku-ei-Basir.
a proportion of mosques; it is seated in a luxuriant valley,
which produces tobacco, vegetables and excellent dates. 3 Ten
miles onward is Shehr, the capital of the district, with a forti
fied castle, the residence of the sultan, placed on an eminence
in the centre. The |own extends about a mile along-shore
and is of a triangular shape; it contains a mosque, a custom
house, and about 6000 inhabitants. Some coarse cottons,
gunpowder, and implements of war are here manufactured,
and the annual duties on trade produce 5000/. 4
Fifteen miles south-westward of Shehr is Makallah, the Makaiiah.
principal commercial depot of the south coast of Arabia ; the
town partly occupies a projecting rocky point, and partly the
lower slope of a range of reddish limestone cliffs 300 feet high.
Six towers have been constructed for the protection of the
place; behind which Jeb-el-Gharrah rises 1300 feet above the
sea. The inhabitants consist of the Beni Hasan, the Yafa'i
and Karachie tribes, with some Banians and other foreigners,
in all amounting to about 4500 souls; they have some remains
of the ancient trade to India: gums, hides, coffee, and large
quantities of senna, being exported from thence in return for
cotton, cloths, lead, iron, crockery, rice, dates, sheep, honey,
aloes, frankincense and other spices, and also some slaves; 5
there is besides a considerable coasting trade. 6 The route from
this port to Sihun, now the capital of Hadramaut, is by Tukam,
Jeb-el-Akar, Wasel, Kaidah, a considerable place, Sa ah, Abd-
al-Beti and Tarbal. 7
In this district and the bordering tract of Ahkaf tradition
1 Royal Geographical Journal, vol, IX., p. 151.
2 Edrisi, ed. Jaubert, vol. V., pp. 53, 149, Recueil de Voyages, &c.
s Ib id. 4 Ibid., p. 152.
5 Royal Geo. Journal, vol. IX., pp. 149,150. 8 Ibid. 7 Ibid.