'Persian Gulf Gazetteer Part II, Geographical and Descriptive Materials, Section II Western Side of the Gulf' [‎39v] (81/286)

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TELEGRAPH ISLET.—Small islet in Khor ash Shem, 80 feet bigh
on wbioh are ruins of British telegraph station abandoned in 1869.
TIBBA. Hamlet. (1) Between Ghamtba and Shuam on west coast of
"Rmiq el Jebel promontory in Ras ul Khaima district of Sbarga. (2) On sandy
beach with few date trees. (3)—(6) (6) Fishing. (7)-(10).
TRUCIAL CHIEFS' TERRITORY.— (1) Extends from Shuam to Odaid
alone south -east shores of Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , distance of over 350 miles, of wbioh
only 160 miles (Shaam to Abu Dhabi) can be called mhabited(?). This territory
includes former Pirate Coast which began at Rams on north and extended
to Dabai, though Dahai itself was hardly considered as a Pirate port. Boun
dary is sea on west and north. Inland limits are undetermined. (2) Pol
itical divisions are Sharga (including Ras al Khaima and Fuja ira districts as well
as Sharga proper) ; Umm ul Kawain ; Hamriya ; Ajraan; Dabai; Abu Dhabi.
Each of these divisions is dealt with under its own name. (8) Coast
from Shuam to Ras al Khaima is low and nearly straight, with hign
land in background ; and soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. off coast decrease from north south-
wards. There are date palms at Shuam and a dense palmgrove extends
from Rams to Ras al Khaima. The hills are miles from coast at Shuam,
6 miles distant at Ras al Khaima, and south of this the maritime plain
widens very rapidly. From Ras al Khaima to Abu Dhabi coast is low and
sandy throughout. The coast towns generally are very similar in appearance
and consequently difficult to distinguish. There are many creeks, often com
municating with each other inland and forming back-waters. Between Ras al
Khaima and Umm ul Kawain shoal water and reefs extend about 2 miles from
coast. There are date trees at Umra ul Kawain but none at Jezirat al Hamra,
and no trees at all at Hamriya. The country from Ras al Khaima to Ajraan
is not exactly sterile but neither is it well cultivated The tidal stream sets
parallel to shore on this coast with a speed of 1 to 2 knots. The great Pearl
Bank begins opposite Sharga and covers whole space south of 20 fathom contour
line. Haira, Fasht and Sharga have date groves which extend some distance south
from last mentioned place. Inland from Sharga the land is a flat sandy plain.
From Abu Hail to Dabai there are no groves. From 4 miles south-west of
Dabai to Abu Dhabi coast has average direction about south-west: throughout
this stretch it is barren and uninhabited, very low and uniform in appearance,
consisting of sand hillocks with coarse grass in tufts and cut up by creeks and
extensive swamps, without any tree larger than mangrove bush. Jebel Ali,
220 feet high, is only landmark in these parts. As Abu Dhabi is approached
a succession of intercommunicating creeks and extensive swamps and backwaters
is passed. These extend many miles into interior and are separated from
sea by small strip of sand only : they yield fish and fire-wood. From Abu
Dhabi to Bereymi the country seems to be chiefly sandy desert, shale and
shingle cropping out with dip of 30° to north. There are only a few stunted date
trees at Abu Dhabi. Three miles south of Abu Dhabi is large bay, unexplor
ed, S"2 miles wide at entrance and perhaps 20 miles deep. Beyond this
point coast is sandy or stony, with rocky hills and sandhills of moderate height.
It soon assumes a west direction which it preserves till near Odaid
when it turns north-west. About opposite the island of Dalma is the
mouth of the Sabkheh, a wide depression or morass w r hich separates
Oman from Nejd. From Abu Dhabi to Odaid the coast is barren and
desolate, with water at but few places, and there indifferent. Great reefs
extend as much as 30 miles to seaward, one of the principal being Bazim
which has a length east and west of 53 miles and running parallel to
the coast forms an inlet or blind channel called Khor Bazim about 60 miles
long; entrance of this channel is at its west end, 19 miles east of Sir Beni Yas.
The whole of the great bay between Abu Dhabi and Odaid is full of islands,
reefs and shoals and is but imperfectly known or surveyed. Only inhabited
island is Dalma. Even Arab vessels larger than pearl boats seldom venture
here and Arab mariners seldom visit mainland in these parts. Fishermen fre
quent the islands to catch fish and turtle. Pilots for this sea are obtained at
Abu Dhabi. (4) The heat is intense in summer. Palgrave however considered
the atmosphere at Sharga to resemble that of India rather than Arabia.
(5) There are routes from Sharga, Abu Dhabi and Ras al Khaima to Bereymi.