56 BUIST ON THE CURIA MURIA ISLANDS. [Jan. 23, 1860. 



had had two distinct and well-pronounced cyclones developing 

 themselves in the Arabian Sea between the 54th and 56th meridians, 

 and which scarcely seem to have extended over twelve square 

 degrees in all. From the irretrievable barrenness of the Curia 

 Murias, the scarcity both of animal and vegetable life, we are quite 

 prepared to find them almost destitute of inhabitants ; but they never 

 seem to have been wholly unpeopled since first mentioned in history. 

 The following is the account given of them by Dr. Hulton * ; — 



" Among the people on the southern coast of Arabia, they are usually 

 spoken of as the Juzan of Ghulfan : called so from an enterprising family 

 belonging to the great Mahara tribe. The head of this family, Said bin 

 Oomar bin Haat bin Ghulfan, possessed a small property in the neighbour- 

 hood of Morbat, called Howeeys. Being of an active commercial turn he 

 amassed considerable wealth, and, having drawn together a numerous party of 

 adherents, he made a vigorous attempt to possess himself of the government 

 of Morbat. In this, however, he failed, and was compelled to seek refuge in 

 the island of Helaniyah. When affairs had become more settled, he returned 

 to Howeeys, reserving to himself and heirs the right of possession in all the 

 islands. His two sons and nephews, regarding the islands as hereditary pro- 

 perty, still visit them occasionally for the purpose of collecting any money the 

 natives may have received for watering foreign vessels and bugalahs. These 

 visits are always hailed with pleasure by their poor subjects, as they seldom 

 fail to supply them with a few dates and other necessaries. 



" Helaniyah is the only island in the group which is now inhabited. Its 

 present population consists of twenty-three individuals, who differ nothing in 

 form and complexion from the Arab. They are perhaps somewhat degenerated 

 from their forefathers in strength and bodily vigour, but this may be explained 

 by their extreme poverty and wretched mode of living. The soil of the 

 island is quite incapable of being cultivated in any part, whatever industry or 

 care might be bestowed in the attempt. There is, indeed, barely sufficient 

 vegetation for the support of a few straggling wild goats, which the sterility of 

 the plains and growing neglect of their former possessors have driven to the 

 hills and valleys. Necessity has compelled the inhabitants to look to the sea 

 alone for means of subsistence : in fact, they may be classed with perfect pro- 

 j)riety as ichthyophagi ; but in any one previously acquainted with their 

 mode of existence, the comparatively healthy aspect of these islanders cannot 

 but excite a certain degree of astonishment." 



The enormous flocks of birds, and the amount of excrement which 

 both the Curia Murias and Salt Eocks off the easternmost point 

 of Africa afford, as observed in 1834-35, are mentioned both by 

 Captain Haines and Dr. Hulton. Guano from sea-fowl was not 

 then known as a marketable commodity ; had it been otherwise, 

 probably these gentlemen would have surmised that that seen by 

 them was neither of quantity nor quality sufficient to meet charges. 

 In 1845, Mr. Waghorn despatched a light vessel from Suez to 

 examine the various islands in the Red Sea. In 1846, the ship 

 Northumberland, having carried out cargo to Aden, crossed over to 

 Salt Eocks, where the display of birds and gossip excited by Mr. 



* See Hulton, p. 184 and 185 of Geographical Transactions, Bombay, vol. iii. 



