19
PRESIDENCY DIVISION, ADEN, AND BOMBAY MARINE.
2. The Island of Perim. called in ancient times the Isle of Dioturus, and by the Arabs El
Maiyum, is situated in the narrowest part of the Straits of Babel
Mandeb, being distant from the Arabian coast 1½ miles and
from the African, 10 or 11. Its greatest length is about 5 miles, and its average width about
Its circumference, following the sinuosities of the coast-line, would probably exceed 30 miles.
It is of mixed volcanic and coral formation, formed partly by volcanic upheaval and partly by the
receding of the sea at some remote period. About one-third of the island consists of plains
(formerly sea-beds) formed of a substratum of old conglomerate coral beds covered with about
a foot of earth and sand mixed. The plains occur principally on the northern side of the island;
and are partly covered with statice or sea-lavender, wild mignonett, salsola, senna, and other
plants which grow in salt sandy ground ; some coarse grass also grows on the plains and in the
water-courses after rain. A curious feature of the hills is that the rocks are nowhere exposed,
except when here and there they descend perpendicularly into the sea ; they are covered
with a layer of volcanic soil from 2 to 6 feet in depth, above which is another layer of
loose volcanic boulders and irregular masses of black vesicular lava, in some places so thickly
set as to resemble a rude pavement. There are some outcrops of aqueous strata on N.W.
side. At the head of a long-shaped bay, which runs from the harbour in a N.W. direction, are
the rains of barracks built by Colonel Murray's Red Sea detachment when Perim was occu
-pied by the British during the Egyptian war in 1799. Near the same spot, and about 150
yards from the beach, are the ruins of a circular masonry tank intended to hold 25,000 gal
-lons. The island consists of long, low, and gradually-sloping ranges of hills, for the most
part surrounding the harbour ; these have formerly been intersected by bays and indenta
-tions which in the course of time have become filled up with coral and sand, and are now
conglomerate coral plains covered with sand blown from the beach and a little earth washed
down from the hills during rain. The highest point on the island is 209 feet, the base of the
fort occupied by the detachment 203 feet above sea-level, and the lighthouse at the northern
extremity of the fort is 249 feet at the highest point. The harbour, which faces S. W., has
natural advantages which few others possess, being almost surrounded by ranges of hills
averaging about 90 feet in height ; it is 1½ miles in length and
1½ in breadth. The entrance to it is 860 yards wide ; it affords
safe anchorage for ships in all winds.
A rain-water tank capable of containing 36,000 gallons (lately leased to a water contractor)
becomes filled when rain falls, and the water is issued in lieu of
purchased water. Many attempts have been made to find fresh
water by digging, but without success. The prevailing winds are N. and N.W. from April or
May till September or beginning of October, and E. or S.E. for
the remainder of the year. The regular monsoons do not reach
this neighbourhood.
3. There is no system of drainage, and none required.
4. The climate is very healthy ; and there being generally a strong prevailing wind at
the different seasons of the year, the atmosphere is rendered
agreeably cool, except in the hot months, when sometimes it is
very warm, close, and oppressive.
5. The detachment occupies the fort, which is situated very advantageously, and live
in a series of long low barracks, which are out of repair and
very old ; they are built on plinths. The accommodation is not
sufficient ; the ventilation is free, except at N.E. barracks, where windows are much needed.
There is no bazaar or neighbouring villages, no system of drainage, and no tanks : all the
sanitary arrangements are satisfactory.
6. The water brought from the Arabian coast has been found of a very inferior de
-
scription, and an extra gallon per man per day of condensed
water for the use of the detachment has been sanctioned by
the Brigadier-General at Aden from May to September ; during the remainder of the year
water is brought from the neighbourhood of Zeilah, on the African coast, and is of much
better description.
7. Canoes from the Arabian coast bring over occasionally
fowls, fruit, fresh vegetables, and other articles for sale on the
is land.
Topography.
Harbour.
Rain-water Tank.
Winds.
Climate.
Barracks.
Water.
Food.
8. The principal admissions have been from fever, scurvy, mumps, dysentery, and simple
contusions. The fever was of intermitent type, and was treated
with quinine and cinchonodine with success. There were 3
cases of scurvy admitted into hospital, but an unusual number of cases were treated as out -
door patients, which is attributable to the want of fresh vegetables, the regiment having been
Sickness, &c.