1883.] on the Island of Socotra and its Becent Bevelaiions. 297 



leople its existence and its name are alike unknown, or at most it is 

 issociated in a vague sort of way with the East Indies. 



The causes for this are not difficult to discover. As the extreme 

 mtlyingland in this region of the Indian Ocean, the island is exposed 

 ! o the full blast of the monsoons, however they blow, and possessing no 

 larbour in which a ship can at all times ride safely at anchor, it offers 

 10 inducements to ships seeking shelter. Then the currents which 

 weep past its shores run with considerable force into the Gulf of Aden, 

 ,nd there have been several shipwrecks on it, as well as on the African 

 ;oast adjacent — the high hills of the island being easily mistaken 

 or the mainland, and vice versa — and navigation in its vicinity is 

 Itogether somewhat hazardous. It is not surprising, therefore, that 

 )assing vessels avoid the island as much as possible. Moreover 

 he want of intercourse with the island, and consequent ignorance 

 egarding its inhabitants, have given currency to various rumours not 

 avourable to their character, which, though quite unwarranted, yet 

 lave had their influence in preserving Socotra as a virgin and 

 mexplored island in the pathway of civilisation. 



Its position on the direct route to India is one of far too much im- 

 )ortance to have allowed its remaining so neglected had any natural 

 dvantages obtained permitting of its being utilised, or had there 

 )een no obstacles. Strategically valuable as is Aden, our station in 

 his region, its barren waterless soil would place it at a great dis- 

 .dvantage compared with an island possessing a rich soil and 

 )lentiful water-supply, such as Socotra, did it possess the other 

 lements necessary for becoming a military station. But it has been 

 ried and found wanting. Its history shows how at various periods 

 ts importance has been recognised, and certainly its present back- 

 ward condition can hardly be ascribed to want of attempts to settle or 

 colonise it. 



The early history of Socotra is of considerable interest. The island 

 leems to have been known to Europeans at an early period under 

 he name of Dioscoris or Dioscorida, — a name traced by some to a 

 vanskrit root signifying " abode of bliss " ; by others to two Arabic 

 vords meaning " island of dragon's-blood " (kdtii- being the Arabic 

 lame for this gum-resin). This name was apparently applied at first, 

 lot to the one island we now know as Socotra, but to the whole 

 .rchipelago of which it is a member. But possibly there is an old 

 •efereuce to the island under another name. The disputation that has 

 aken place about the identification of the various spots from which in 

 iarliest times, as recorded in the Old Testament and on Eastern 

 Qonuments, incense, myrrh, and other like substances were derived, 

 s well known. The country of the Sabseans and of the Queen of 

 )heba is still far from being a settled question. Now on the Deir- 

 1-Bahari monument at Thebes, erected by Queen Hatasou in the 

 ighteenth dynasty, there are representations showing the com- 

 aissioner of the queen going over the sea to the country of Poun 

 ■nd of To Nuter, and bringing back therefrom amongst other things 



