'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎118] (285/524)

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RECENT TOUR ROUND THE NORTHERN
After riding two hours we turned a little to the West of
South to avoid the Bedouins.
At 3 r- m. the sandstone began to crop out where the gravel had
been, and thus continued till 5, when the soil became much richer,
covered with young grass and low brushwood.
At 5-52 p. m. we encamped in the bed of a nullah to escape being
observed by the Arabs. We travelled this day at the rate of 3 miles
an hour.
March 3rJ.—Mounted at 6-55 A. m. and rode South over beautiful
undulating plains covered with grass and dowers. At i 0 a. m. we bad
a false alarm. A body of men was seen approaching from the South,
but it turned out to be a party belonging to Zobaire returning from
Koweit. There is at present a blood feud between the keepers of our
baggage animals, who are Zobaries, and the Bedouins at present wan
dering here about. Only three weeks ago a number of sheep were
stolen from Zobaire, and five Bedouins killed. 11 a.m. passed through
a gap in a low range of sandstone. We saw this gap yesterday, and it
forms a capital landmark, where there is not even a path. We then
rode for an hour over a low plain, with the sea on our left to Jahrah.
This place belongs to Yusuf bin Bider, a merchant of Koweit. It con
sists of three large enclosures or forts, and about a dozen small gardens,
and outside those a couple of hundred acres of bailey cultivation. It
is said that there are 100 inhabitants in the place with flocks of sheep
and plenty of water. There are a dozen small wells of good drinking
water on a patch of white ground to the south.
*
Standing on the highest tower of the fort and looking North about
three miles off, is the low sandstone range stretching from West to
East, and then bending Northward round the margin of the bay of
Koweit.
Eastward is the bay or harbour, and looking along its Southern
margin in the distance, may be seen the town itself. To the South and
West is an undulating country covered with grass and flowers, but no
water. Water is sent from this to the shepherds of those plains on
camels. Here Yusuf Kin Bider collects his horses before sending them
to Bombay, and feeds them up on the lucern grass produced on the
farm. The place is said to he very healthy, and the air dry like that
of Baghdad.
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nullahs.
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