"الممتلكات الفرنسية في خليج عدن. إعداد النقيب إ. ج. إ. سواين، كتيبة المشاة البنغالية السادسة عشر." [ظ‎‎١‎٢] (٧٦/٢٩)

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From Ras-Duan to Jebel*Jan the coast is bold. After 5} miles there is a
slightly projecting bluff point, from which to Ras-al-Bir, bearing east by north
and distant 1 yi miles, the coast is concave, forming a bay 3 miles deep. For
17 miles from Ras-Duan the shore is a precipitous cliff, the mountains approach
ing close to the sea. After this, it is low and sandy and the mountains recede
from the sea, approaching it again at Jebel-Jan. Native vessels resort to an
anchorage 5 miles to the westward of Obok. Good water is obtainable in the
Atella valley.
Ras-al-Bir .—Passing Obok, we come to Cape Ras-al*Bir, a sandy point 20
feet high, forming the north point of the entrance to the Gulf of Tajoura.
Thence to Jebel-Jan the coast is low and sandy, and between it and the
mountains there is an extensive plain covered with mangroves’and brush-wood.
Jebel-Jan. —Jebel-Jan is the highest of three or four ranges of tabular moun
tains, which reach a great elevation and approach close to the sea. It is distant
from Ras-al-Bir about 18 miles. From Jebel-Jan to Jebel-Sijan, a distance of
13 miles, the shore is low, sandy and covered with jungle. It is fronted by a
rocky reef extending from ^ to f of a mile from it.
Ras-Sijan. —Ras-Sijan forms the southern point of the entrance to the Red
Sea. It is a peak 380 feet high, connected with the coast by a strip of low land
700 yards wide.
ISLANDS.
Mushah islands .—The islands of Mushah in the centre of the Gulf of Tajoura
IsIandg were bought by the British Government in 1840,
as was also the islet of Bab. Both these w^ere
ceded to France in 1887. The Mushah islands are a group of coral islands ris
ing from 30 to 40 feet above sea level. They lie on a coral reef which extends
north-east and south-west for 7 miles, and is 3^ miles wide.
There are 3 islands and 5 rocky islets, the whole group dividing the entrance
to the Gulf of Tajoura into two channels.
The north channel is 7 miles wide and perfectly free from all danger.
The islands are dangerous to approach, the surrounding coral reefs being dry
at low water for a distance of two miles.
Anchorage .—There is good anchorage, affording shelter at all seasons, in a
gap in the reef, bearing north-west f north from the north-east extreme of the
north-easternmost island of the group. The anchorage is rather more than half-
a-mile distant from this island.
The westernmost island is called Maskali.
Pearl-fishers.—The group is resorted to by about 50 native boats engaged
in pearl-fishing. The fishermen remain here from September to the middle^ of
June, and use the island as a depot, after which they set sail for Aden and other
ports, in order to dispose of their cargo.
Fresh water must be brought from the mainla-nd, about 8 miles distant.
There is none on the islands.
The Brothers islands.—The Brothers, or Jezirat Sabah, is a group of six
rooky isiets, the highest lying due east of Jebel-Sijan, and 9 \ miles south of
Fenm. I he islands are of a brownish color, the northern one bein<* about aso feet
high, the westernmost about 200 feet, and the second from the westward 2 =;o
feet. 0
The anchorage is good, a low rocky islet to the westward is
may be considered dangerous.
the only part that
bALi LAKE.
Bahr Assal. The ASSAL SALT LAKE lies in the centre of a great blai
elliptical depression, and is about miles distant from Gubbet Kharab.
from^seaTfmiles™ 111 tHe la “ er by 3 V ° 1CaniC r ‘ dse 320 feet high - and d!sta
ton { ? ( ? the sea is fairl y eas y< a ." d Lake Assal is seen directly tl
top is reached. After crossing the ridge, which is 210 yards broad, and 420 yan