The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume X, No. 6 [‎111r] (74/186)

ANCIENT TRADING CENTRES OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
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The Sultan’s residence is a large three-storied building near the centre of the
town, a quite plain, rectangular block. It is a relic of the Portuguese occupation,
having comprised the governor’s residence, factory An East India Company trading post. , chapel, warehouses, and
barracks. The Arabs call it El Jereza, a corruption of Igrezia (church). On an
old wooden gate of the custom-house is cut “ Anno 1624.”
The wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. extends up behind the town for a mile or more, and is cultivated in
patches, with vegetables and a few date trees. The wells, worked by bullocks, are
about half a mile from the town wall, and are defended by a square tower or fort,
loopholed for musketry. A small cemented aqueduct, generally out of repair, has
been made to bring the water down to the landing-place for shipment. The water
course draining this valley passes through a culvert under the town wall into the
sea. It is quite dry except after rain.
From Matrah there is a track or way winding through the hills into the interior,
and, after following it about half a mile, you come on a plain among the hills with
a small village, called El-Felej, where there is a castellated country residence of
the sultan, very dilapidated, with a grove of date and other trees, and some
cultivation. The water is brought from the upper part of the valley by an under
ground channel, or kandt. This is the only approach by land to Matrah, whence
Mask at is generally reached by water.
As regards the actual productions of the place, they are unimportant; it being
chiefly a port for transfer of trade. The speciality is the manufacture of hahvah,
a sweetmeat much in request, and of which large quantities are exported. It is
made chiefly of the gluten of maize. Large quantities of dates brought from the
coast of Batinah are exported. It is a port of call for the Gulf mail steamers, and
some English merchants are established here, also many Hindus (Banians), all
traders.
The climate of Maskat is extremely hot, even in the winter, and there is but
little rain, which falls in the winter. It is out of the track of the cooling south
west monsoon, which is cut off by Itas-el-Hadd ; but in that season light south-
No. VI. —December, 1897.] - T