'Routes in Arabia' [‎210] (243/852)

210
Route No. 55— contd.
Here starts Eoutc No. 70. Masqat-Wasit.
® SIFAH .. 16 m. General direction
south-east.
261 m. •jjjg rou t e ijes a i on g
the coai-t, occasionally striking inland for short distances.
At mile 1, Sidab, a village of 250 houses, situated on a small
circulated bay some 300 yards in diameter. The sides of the
entrance to tne bay are of rock, but the inside is of sand.
Landwards the village is surrounded bv precipitous hills.
Some lucerne is grown at the south end 'where the wells are.
Sidab owns 10 donkeys, 20 cattle, 40 sheep and goats, 700 date
palms, and 30 dug-outs.
At mile 1|, Haramul, the quarantine station of Masqat;
/ fishing boats, a few sheep and goats, 20 date palms. At mile
-J is Raudhah, a date plantation wUh a few houses and wells.
At mile 3, Bistan ; 20 huts and some wells. 20 donkevs, 20
cattle, 200 sheep and goats and 1,400 date palms.
At mile 4^ Qantab ; 20 hut«, 30 sheep and goats and 400
date trees.
At mile 5, Bandar Jissah ; a good harbour for small ships.
The harbour is surrounded on the land side by high hills, and
across the mouth of the bay is an island about 140 feet high.
The east entrance is 280 yards broad and both entrance and
anchorage have a depth of about 35 feet. There are 60 houses
and a date grove. Fresh water is somewhat scarce.
At mile 6, cross adi Kano, a small watercourse.
At mile ,, ^iti, situated about a mile inland on the right
bank of the ^ adi Maih, just above its junction with the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. -al-
Hilu; 60 houses, 10 camels, 35 donkevs, 10 cattle, 400
sheep and goats and 1,200 date palms.
At mile 10, Bandar Khairan, a village of 30 huts with an
anchorage consisting of a bay, sheltered by two islands, which
could be used by fairly large vessels. There are a few small
fishing boats.
At mile 13, Khaisat-ash-Shaikh ; one or two houses and
some scanty date cultivation.
At mile 16, Sifah ; 40 houses and a square tower on a mound
90 feet high ; 150 sheep and goats and 300 date palms.