Al Kolzum and Aylah are situated on two arms or gulfs of the sea, between which the land interposes, running to the South; which land is the mountain al Tur almost in the same longitude with Aylah, which stands at the northern extremity of the eastern bay, while al Kolzum is at the northern extremity of the western gulf, so that Aylah is more to the east, and mount al Tur more to the south than al Kolzum. Aylah is situated on the inmost part of the promontory which extends into the sea.  Between al Tur and the coast of Mesr (Egypt), that arm of the sea or gulf extends on which al Kolzum stands.  In like manner that arm of the sea on which Aylah is situated extends between al Tur and Hejaz.  From this mountain of al Tur the distance to either of the opposite coasts is small by sea, but longer about by the desert of Fakiyah, as those who travel by land from al Tur to Mesr are under the necessity of going round by al Kolzum, and those who go by land from al Tur to Hejaz must go round by way of Aylah. Al Tur joins the continent on the north, but its other three sides are washed by the sea.  The sea of al Kolzum, after passing some way to the south-east from al Tur begins to widen on either side, till it becomes seventy[345] miles broad.  This wider part is called Barkah al Gorondal.

[Footnote 345:  These are to be understood as Arabian miles, 56-2/3 to the degree, or each equal to 1-1/4 English miles according to Norwoods measure, 69-1/2 to the degree.—­Astl.  I. 132. b.

This would only give 80 English miles for the breadth of the Red Sea; whereas, immediately below the junction of the two northern guffs, it is 104 miles broad, and its greatest breadth for a long way is 208 miles.—­E.]

Table of Situations, from Abulfeda[346].

Lat.
deg. min.   deg. min
Kolzum,                                  28  20 N.   54  15 E.
-------by some                                       56  30
Al Kossir,                               26   0      59   0
Aydhab                                   21   0      58   0
Swakem,                                  17   0      58   0
Aden,                                    11   0      66   0
Borders of Yaman,                        19   0      67   0
Jiddah,                                  21   0      66   0
Jahafah,                                 22   0      65   0
Yamboa,                                  26   0      64   0
Aylah,                                   29   0      55   0
——­                                     28  50      56  40

[Footnote 346:  The longitude is reckoned by Abulfeda from the most western shores on the Atlantic Ocean, at the pillars of Hercules; supposed to be 10 deg.  E. of the Fuzair al Khaladat, or the Fortunate Islands.—­Ast.  I. 134.