'دليل الخليج، الجزء الثاني، مواد جغرافية ووصفية، القسم الثاني، الجانب الغربي من الخليج' [ظ‎‎٦‎٥] (٢٨٦/١٣٣)

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tripled in area wlien the tide has receded. A remarkable feature of the
Bahrein islands are the fresh-water springs which exist, both on land and
under the sea near the shore. The largest on land is the Adhari which
rises about 3 miles south-west of Manama near the head of the Nabbi Sali
creek : it forms a perfect river of fast-running water, 10 feet broad and 2
deep, which irrigates many miles of date-groves, being conveyed by an ancient
stone aqueduct. The Abu Zeidan spring flows from stone ar/h under small
mosque at Belad -el-Kadim : it is built round and reserved for Chief of Bahrein
and his family. There are also the Gassari spring between Manama and Belad el
Kadim, and the Umm Shaoom spring 1 mile east of Manama. Bent mentions
one called Garsari (is this same as Gassari above?) and Bitter speaks of
an A in Marilgha and an Ain Ghadar. According to Bent the Arabs think
springs are fed by an underground continuation of tho river Euphrates. The
marine springs lie mostly around Muharrak Inland, there being one on Saya
islet, 3 inside Khaseifa opposite Dir, 2 on Arza islet opposite Kahli, one at Bu
Shahin and one called Bu Mahir near Muharrak Port (see the articles on these
places). There is also a fine fresh marine spring on the Khor Fasht about
north-west from the Portuguese Fort on Bahrein island and GJ miles from the
nearest land, from which Whish obtained 700 gallons of good drinking water in
one day in 1859. Most of these springs are brackish (?) and Zvvemer says those
on the north part of the island are luke-warm. The best water in the islands is
found at Hanaini whence it is brought daily to Manama by caravan. (4) Ac
cording to Bombay Selection (1818) the climate is bad, and the inhabitants more
prone to suffer from contagious diseases than elsewhere in the Gulf, cholera
being specially virulent here : Gulf fever is prevalent and strangers sleeping on
shore are liable to be attacked by it. Palgrave experienced violent gales at Bah
rein in January iSO'J, accompanied by rain, hail and thunder; trees were blown
down, huts unroofed and ships swamped or cast away. Durand states that the
climate is delightful from October to April. Zwemer says the climate is not
so bad as has often been stated by casual visitors. October, November,
December, March and April are pleasant months, the temperature indoors rang
ing from 60° to 85°. January and February when north winds blow and it is
cold enough to light fires are the most rainy and least healthy months. From
May to September weather is hot, but till the middle of June tho nights are
cool and the heat is tempered by sea breeze {barih). Land breezes from west
and south continue irregularly all summer; when they fail thermometer
remains persistently above 100°. In the summer of 1S93 at Manama the mini-
mum indoors was 85° and the maximum in the shade 107°. The prevailing
^vind is the Shemal, which in winter is violent and endangers shipping : only other
strong wind is Kaus from south-east which blows irregularly between December
and April. (5) No information, except that there are traces of a made road
to Ali, that caravans ply between Manama and Hauaini, and that some excel
lent donkeys are obtainable for transport. (0) (a) Products are pearls, dates,
figs, citrons, peaches (?) and loazi almonds, of which husk is eaten as well as
kernel; also limes, oranges, pomegranates and grapes and a few vegetables
of several kinds including onions. Clover (?) and lucerne are grown fur
fodder. Bombay Selections mentions mulberries and melons, and Bitter speaks
of corn. Palgraye thought the vegetable produce of Bahrein, except citrons,
was below mediocrity : palms were numerous but the dates wretched, and
generally speaking vegetable growth was rank but quality poor. Small gazelle
are common in the rocky highlands. Camels arc kept but do not thrive; the
white donkc}s of the place are celebrated for strength and swiftness. Mignan
says the horses are renowned for their " gentility. ' Sheep are few. Oxen
and kine are not rare, but the beef is poor. Fish are abundant and good, (b)
?. ln 'P rma tion about internal trade except that the agricultural inhabitants
sell their surplus produce at Manama, {c) Imports, mostly from India are
rice, cloth, cotton, calico and spices to the value of $ 000,000, of which J is for
local consumption and f for re-exportation (Bombay Records, 1818). Imports
are (a es and ghee from Basra; goats, sheep, bullocks, cows, camoleens, dates,
on eys and horses from Arabia; sugar, cloth, gunpowder, swords and
n\n C -f i i! ico-\ r ^ ce ' indigo, thread, needles, etc., from India
^ ^ ice » sugar, indigo, iron, metals, ghi and Malabar
timber for ship building arc imported (Hitter, 1816), Douglas (1890) mentions