The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume X, No. 6 [‎111v] (75/186)

614
ANCIENT TRADING CENTRES OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
easterly airs at times temper the heat. Abd-er-razzak,* 1442, says that in May
“ the heat of the sun was so intense that the sword in its scabbard melted like
wax,” etc. 1 can almost pardon him his exaggeration.
History. —Turning to the history of the place, it is only speculation to inquire
whether the Moscha and Omana mentioned in the Periplus f are the Maskat and
Oman of the present day. Dean Vincent argues that they are not, but it is
possible they may be intended for these places, and misplaced in the itinerary,
some confusion in the application of names having arisen. The description given
of the places seems more applicable to Maskat, than any other part.
We have a brief glimpse of the place J in the ninth century, indicating it as the
last port of call for the Arab vessels proceeding to India, which is all I have been
able to trace of its earliest history.
FORT OF FELEJ.
Colonel Taylor, formerly political agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. , and, I believe, a
great Arabic scholar, gives a short account of the history § of Oman “from authentic
sources of Arabian tradition,” but does not specify any authorities. He says
nothing about the period between the eighth and seventeenth centuries, and does
not mention the long Portuguese occupation. His account says that the first
native Arabian who entered Oman was one Malik bin Fakham of Nejd, four
centuries before the Christian era, || who, with some hundred followers of the
Hiuavi tiibe, settled at Jaalan or Bahia, two towns in the interior some 70 miles
to south - westward of Maskat; and fortified Rastag, an ancient city in the rr.oun-
ta'uous district of Oman, 30 miles westward of Maskat. Successive additions to
the numbers of these Arabs enabled them, after obstinate resistance, entirely to
ex|icl the Persians from the province. His successors continued in power until the
mission of Mohammed. * * * §
* Hakluyt Society, vol. 22, ‘ India in the Fifteenth Century.’
t ‘Periplus of the Erytlman Sea.’ W. Vincent, d.d. 1800.
X Geographical Journal, vol. vi. No. 2, August, 1895, p. 169.
§ ‘Bombay Government Records,’ No. 24, New Series, 1856.
I, Colonel Ross says the probability is that Malik bin Fahm entered Oman in the
early part of the second century a .n, and that the part he played is probably exaggerated.
I he country up to his time was under the Persians, the date of whose conquest is not
known.