140 Report on the Island of Socotra. [March, 



forcibly when we consider the position of Socotra, its lying directly in the 

 route of the trade from India, by the way of the Red Sea: the entrance to 

 which, it may be said to command on the one hand, and close to the track 

 of our ships by the way of the Cape on the other — a position, the advan- 

 tages of which under an enterprising population and enlightened govern- 

 ment, could scarcely have failed at some period to have brought it into 

 great commercial notice and prosperity. In periods of antiquity, Socotra 

 served as a station for merchants ; and it may be observed, that these 

 advantages were not over-looked by a maritime nation like the Portu- 

 guese. The ports which remain in the vicinity of Tamarida still attest the 

 importance which they attached to its possession ; but since the decline of 

 their powei', at the conclusion of the sixteenth century, Socotra has conti- 

 nued to be disregarded by European nations. 



At the commencement of this year, various causes combined to render the 

 establishment of a steam communication between India and Europe an ob- 

 ject of general interest, and discussion ; and the attention of Government 

 became particularly directed towards this island, along the shores of which 

 it was anticipated, that some well-sheltered harbours might be discovered, 

 which would serve at all seasons as a depot for coals. In order to determine 

 this point, Captain Haines in the Palinurus Surveying Brig was directed 

 to proceed at once to the island, and to execute a minute trigonometrical 

 survey of its exterior, while his attention at the same time was called to 

 " obtaining the fullest information regarding the government, population, 

 produce, fertility and quality of soil, as .veil as the religion, customs, man- 

 ners, and wealth of its inhabitants." While Captain Haines should occupy 

 himself with the former of these duties, confining his observation to the 

 sea coast and its vicinity, I was directed to proceed towards the interior 

 in order that I might, from personal observation, report on the various 

 subjects on which Government was desirous of possessing information. 



Providing myself with camels, and a guide, I first journeyed by the interi- 

 or towards Colesseah, examining the greater part of the western portion 

 of the island. After concluding my observations in this neighbourhood, and 

 communicating with the ship, I returned to Tamarida. A chief, in the 

 mean time,named Hamed Ben Taby, arrived at Colesseah, who after leaving 

 most positive directions, prohibiting our further progress, again left for the 

 continent. We were in consequence closely confined to the town for a few 

 days, but I at length got clear and completed my survey of the western end. 

 The map will best exhibit the nature and extent of these journeys, and I 

 shall not enter into any detail of them here, or make any other remarks 

 than that the Arabs were unceasing in their attempts to throw obstacles 

 in the way of my completion of it. 



The Island of Socotra is of the shape of an acute triangle, having for 

 its vertex, a flat promontory towards the east called Ras Mamse; the 

 coast line on the other side runs in a S. W. direction, and is nearly straight ; 

 the general direction of the northern face is formed by a succession 

 of small bays; the base is also indented by a deep bay. Its length is 71 £ 

 miles, and breadth at the broadest part 21^ miles. The whole island may 



