مجموعة ٦/٨٨ "استخبارات: تقرير عسكري عن الجزيرة العربية (كتب سرية١٨٩٢)." [ظ‎‎٣‎٣] (١٣٣/٧١)

40
MUKALLA
(Lat. 14° 31' N., Long. 49° 06' E.)
[See Plans Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8 and Admiralty Chart 10.)
(1) General Remarks
MUKALLA (MAKALLA) is, next to ADEN, the principal port on the south coast of
ARABIA. The anchorage is unclassified, being a shallow open bay, quite unsuitable tor
defence, fully open to observation from seaward and accessible to any type of ship. It has
a deep approach with 6 to 30 fathoms in the anchorage. There is a strip of anchorage off
the town about 2 miles long and 5 cables wide, where a few ships could obtain temporary
anchorage during the north-east monsoon. A ground swell comes in with the nortn-east
monsoon, but the anchorage is stated to be safe then but untenable during the south-west
monsoon. Ships could then find temporary anchorage off BANDAR BURUM, 13 miles to
the south-west, where there is a similar anchorage but sheltered from the westward.
The present Sultan, H.H. Omar Bin Awadh, is the chief of the independent rulers of the
Hadramaut, who are all in loose treaty relations with GREAT BRITAIN. He is an Indian,
and spends most of his time at HYDERABAD, where he owns property, leaving the
administration of MUKALLA in the hands of a Wazir and a staff of grasping Indian Officials
who have little sympathy with the natives. This state of affairs is causing considerable
unrest amongst the Arab inhabitants, which is being sympathetically watched by the
authorities at ADEN.
(2) Port Facilities
There are no piers or wharves accessible to steamships, although at high water dhows of
about 50 tons are able to work their cargoes at the only existing wharf {see Plan 6) where troops
and stores could be landed in ship’s boats. The depth of water alongside is not known, but
would appear to be 6 ft. and below.
There are no lifting appliances or docks.
Harbour craft are limited to the local dhows. Steamships and cargo boats anchor about
a mile off the promontory, where there is from 7-12 fathoms of water.
From June to August, when the south-west monsoon is at its height, it is usually only
possible to land merchandise at MUKALLA from dawn to about 1000 daily. After this time
the wind and sea increase and dhows, etc., seek shelter in BANDAR BURUM.
Landing in boats in fine weather would be possible on the small sandy beaches immediately
east and stretching to the west of the promontory.
(3) The Town
Of recent years the population of MUKALLA has increased considerably and was estimated
in 1931 at 10,000. The town is built partly on a rocky point between two bays and partly
on the terraced slopes of a reddish limestone cliff. This rises to a height of 300 ft. and is
defended by four towers. The western side of the town is protected by a wall extending
from the cliff to the shore, possessing only one gate, which is closed at night and watched
by a permanent guard. Many well-built stone houses have been erected, including the Sultan’s
palace. This structure stands on the sea front at the western end of the town ; immediately
behind it is the old palace, a large and permanent square building, which is now used as a
guest house. Most of the inhabitants’ houses are built of stone or mud. There is a considerable
number of mud huts and reed-matting shacks. The bazaar is situated on and to the west of
the promontory.
JEBEL AL KARA, about | mile northward of the north-western end of the town, is
1,300 ft. high, with a flat-topped summit.
The main supply of water is conveyed to MUKALLA from AL BAKHRAIN (BOK
HAREN) by a pipe line which empties itself into a reservoir near the guest house at the
estimated capacity of 45,000 gallons per hour. There are two other reservoirs or tanks at
BOK HAREN from which place water is brought in skins and sold in the town.
There are other wells in the Wadi Wasit, chiefly used for irrigation purposes, as well as
some in the town which are brackish.
Firewood, bullocks, sheep, fowls, eggs, honey and some kinds of vegetables are obtainable
and are moderate in price.
Sanitation is probably non-existent.
There is an electric lighting plant which supplies current to the palace and street lighting.
There are no hospitals, post or telegraphic offices.
A very considerable trade is carried on with INDIA, the SOMALI coast, the RED SEA
p.nd MUSCAT. The exports are chiefly gums, hides, senna and a small quantity of coffee,