The geography and geology of south-eastern EgyptBall, John
Science
The geography and geology of south-eastern Egypt
Ball, John
Geology -- Egypt; Physical geography -- Egypt
Halaib possesses an excellent harbour, though it is sometimes
difficult of access to sailing vessels owing to the direction of its
entrance.[105] It is visited occasionally by Coast Guard cruisers as
well as by small trading boats from Suakin. On enquiry of the local
sailors, I found most of the names given on the Admiralty Charts
of this district to be unknown to them. For example, Abu Dara,
Sherm Alueda, Ras Abu Fatma, Elba Island, Ras Jazriyal, and Cape
Elba were all unknown. Abu Dara was called by the natives Shekra
el Delam, while Elba Island was called Geziret el Dibia, and Cape
Elba is locally known as Ras Hadarba. I obtained the following names
for the small anchorages north and south of Halaib, though I could
not locate them exactly on the maps, as the sailors could not read
a map sufficiently well, and the harbours themselves are mere gaps
through the outer coral reef, not visible indentations of the actual
coast-line. Starting from Bir Adal Deib and going southward, Mersa
Abu el Qâsim is near the mouth of Wadi el Kiraf; a big tree forms a
landmark for entering it. Further on is Mersa Harâba, then Mersa Abu
Naam with an island opposite to it, then, after passing Ras Unbilat,
comes Mersa Yoider, at the mouth of Wadi Yoider, where there is a
well called Bir Nabit. Passing Abu Ramad well in Wadi Aideib, and
Suakin el Qadim, one comes to Mersa Aqwetit, then to Mersa Serimtai,
at the mouth of Wadi Serimtai, opposite the island of Kwolala, and
then to Mersa Halaib itself. South of Halaib the principal anchorage
is Mersa Shellal, at the mouth of Wadi Shellal. The cape in latitude
22° 10′ is called Ras Qubet Isa. A small anchorage south of Ras
Hadarba (Cape Elba) appears to be called indifferently Mersa Hadarba
(from the hills near it) or Mersa Qabatit (from the wadi and well
near it); but I could not make quite sure if these are one and the
same, or two separate anchorages.
=Wadi Shellal= heads between the high mountain masses of Gebels
Shendodai and Shellal, and courses north-east for about thirty
kilometres to reach the coast about four kilometres south-east of
Halaib. In its lower part, where it crosses the coast-plain, it is
a broad shallow drainage channel full of scrub. Its upper parts,
which have not been explored, are doubtless well supplied with trees,
and are stated to be the principal habitat of the Hamedorab Arabs.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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