'Routes in Arabia' [‎258] (291/852)

258
Route No. lO—contd.
i
No. of stage
and total
distance.
D.tails.
MASQAT
A town, consisting
of a wallecl qxiarter of
;28 houses and 300
shops, outside which arc suburbs with 855 houses ; the town
is surrounded by hills through which there are only difficult
passes, defended by a system of blockhouses. The population
in winter, when it is at its greatest, is about 10,000. There is a
boat-building yard, where small cargo boats can be made and
larger ones repaired. The shipping consists of 9 baghlahs, 32 large
hurls for loading and unloading cargo, 130 small hiiris for the
passenger traffic between Matrah and Masqat, and a large num
ber of fishing boats. There are 30 cattle, and 200 sheep and
goats, mostly fed on fish. Supplies, etc., all have to be imported.
Masqat has a good harbour, though landing is difficult when the
sha mdl is blowing, and with the exception of Dibai, and is the only
port of call for steamers in 'Oman. As the town lies at the end of
a cove surrounded by huge rocky hills it has only difficult means
of communication with the interior. Matrah supplies this want,
and is the local centre for trade with the interior of 'Oman.
1 AL-BIRAIN .. 14 m. General direction,
a large town consisting mostly of hovels and huts, with a few
good houses, and containing altogether about 14,000 souls.
Thi !re is a large block of buildings occupied by Khojahs, and
known as the Khojah Fort. Water fairly plentiful from wells,
some of those lying to the south-west of the Jabru maidan
containing very good water. Matrah is the loading and unload-
ing place for caravans for and from the interior. It has a
large bazar containing supplies of rice, dates, sugar, ghi, fish and
vegetables. Considerable numbers of camels and donkeys are
available at short notice. There are generally a dozen horses
or so at Wataiyah 3| miles out of the town, Matrah owns
2C bnghlahs, 25 badans and many Tiiiris,
14 m.
about south-west.
At mile 2i, Matrah,
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