'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.' [‎645] (744/905)

CHAP. XXIV.J
EL AH'SA.
645
miles beyond is the port of Suweik, which is remarkable for Seaports,
its connexion with the story of Sinbad the sailor. Onward
along the coast, towards the north-west, are Khaburah, Soham,
and Sohar or 'Oman: the latter contains 9000 inhabitants,
and is a place of considerable trade, having at least 40 bagalas
and a revenue of 10,000 dollars. 1
The coast for a distance of 70 miles (from Schinas to Dib- Nature of the
bah) presents a succession of date groves and villages; amongst
which latter may be noticed Kulba and Khorfakan, two small
ports, 2 Dibbah is well supplied with water and vegetables,
and has a castle. Here the coast becomes exceedingly wild
and bold, presenting as far as. Cape Musendom a rugged chain
of mountains, rising abruptly from the sea to the average height
of 2500 feet, without having any beach except a little coral,
and only an occasional valley striking inwards. These show
some date-trees along the rivulets, but scarcely any cultivation ; 3
which is also the case throughout the mountainous tract stretch
ing from thence to the western shore. Including Belad Ser,
this province has a superficies of about 60,000 square geogra
phical milcs y and the population amounts to nearly 300,000
souls. 4
With the latter commences the province of El Ah'sa or ei Ah'sa.
Lahissa, also called Hidger/ which extends north-westward
of 'Oman to the upper extremity of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. near
Grane; having to the west Nedjd, El Aridh, and to the north
west that part of Arabia Deserta called Tauf. 6 It is subdivided
into several districts, but the coast line constitutes the most
important part of it, on account of the valuable pearl fishery,
which has been long established there.
This, which is also called the pirate-coast, commences with Pirate coast,
the port and town of Ser, the capital of the small district of
Belad-Ser, in the vicinity of Cape Musendom ; from whence
it extends, by Ras-el-Khaimah, south-westward to the bay of
Bahrein, a distance of 350 miles. It is, as has been seen,
1 Lieutenant Wellsted's Travels in 'Omdn, &c., vol. I,, p. 229.
2 Ibid., p. 236. 3 Ibid. 4 Ibid.
5 Arabic Geo. MS., translated by Dr. A. Sprenger.
6 Jihkn Numa, p. 528.