Islands
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Flint Island
Located in Back Bay (Western Bay) are a number of small islands, the largest being Slave Island which is some 2 miles to the northeast of Flint Island.
Flint Island, also known as Flint Rock, Quarantine Island or Sheikh Ahmad Island, is located in Ordnance Bay some 300 metres offshore from the Secretariat and The Crescent Hotel. One of its names is most likely linked to that of Sheikh Ahmad Tomb, also known as Sheikh Said Tomb, which is 600 metres south-west, near the war memorial building.
There were at one time at least eight buildings on the island and one would suppose these were in fact used for quarantine purposes in cases of epidemic, both cholera and smallpox being a recurrent problem. Today most of the buildings have gone and there is now just one large horseshoe-shaped building on the western end of the island.
Old postcards have been seen which incorrectly give the name as 'Hint Island'.
Feringee Rocks
500 metres south of the southern tip of Slave Island in Western Bay, midway between Slave Island and Maalla wharf, was a diminishing group of small islands called Feringee Rocks.
Today, with land reclamation the islands are very close to shore. The southernmost island of the group was named Qulfatein Island, and next to it, to the north, Kais-al-Hammal. The third remaining, and northernmost island, closest to Slave Island was known as Jezret Feringee.
The two larger islands of the group at one time had numerous stone buildings though recent satellite images today show them all abandoned.
The location is significant as being the arena for skirmishes in late 1838 which preceded the capture of Aden. Commander Haines had for some time been aboard the Coote, moored in Western Bay, whilst protracted negotiations continued with Sultan Mahsin of Lahej for the peaceful handover of Aden.
Haines had suggested to the Commander of the Coote, Commander Denton, that they set up a nine-pounder gun on Jezret Feringee to exact retribution for a cowardly outrage performed by the Bedouin earlier in the day. Under cover of darkness on November 20 the gun was positioned on the island by Lieutenants Hamilton and Western and by daybreak they were joined by Denton, Haines and Evans together with 15 European soldiers, 10 marines and some seamen with a 5" Howitzer.
In 1838 the only road into Crater was through the Main Pass. With steady bombardment the group succeeded in preventing parties of Arabs and laden camels from entering Crater, and dislodged one of the guns on the Pass. The Bedouin on the hillsides made a futile effort in returning fire and in exasperation attempted to storm Jezret Feringee at low tide when the island was joined to the mainland by a sandbank. Despite coming within 80-90 yards they were repelled after only a few minutes of sustained fire, suffering significant casualties. After nightfall on the 21st, the British party returned victorious to the Coote, with their guns, having suffered no losses.
Sirah Island
Sirah Island is a rocky triangular-shaped island adjoining Crater by a short causeway. The original guard post of Aden, Sirah Fort, a symbol of strength in protecting Aden in bygone times, is an important Islamic archeological monument which stands atop Sirah Island overlooking the original ancient port of Aden.
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The fort dates back more than a thousand years and has been mentioned in ancient Yemenite inscriptions. Throughout history it has defended Aden against invaders and raiding freebooters from across the sea.
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No one knows for certain the builder of this fortress, the reason being the scarcity of archeological studies in the area and, above all, difficulty in financing a project concerning archeological exploration of this castle and the surrounding site.
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The Turkish Wali of Aden (envoyed as ruler of Aden) was the first to use stones in building of walls and fortresses around Aden City and harbour. Perhaps to confirm this historical testimony, is the fact that the Master-Plan of this Castle, together with the pattern of its towers, are somewhat similar to those found in Egypt, Syria and Lebanon, which were built by the Ayoobi rulers.
Sirah Fortress stood against attacks by the Portugese, and played a vital role in defence against the Turkish army in 1517 A.D. The British later modified the original design and architecture of the fort.
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A report by Captain Foster dated March 1839 indicated orders to his soldiers to place guns and artillery in the fort together with additions of army establishments and military stores.
The original Port of Aden at Front Bay which had for so long been guarded by Sirah Fort had silted up long before the arrival of the British in 1839. A new port was established in 1860 at At Tawahi - The British named it Steamer Point. The new harbour lies between the peninsulas of Aden and Little Aden and measures about 15 km east-west by 7 km north-south.
A photo postcard from the early to mid 1900's shows a view of Sirah Island but is wrongly titled "Slave Island”. There seem to have been a number of typographical errors on postcards. A postcard of Flint Island, also known as Quarantine Island, (off Maalla) has been seen which incorrectly names it as "Hint Island".
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Arabs would say, "In the bowels of Sirah is a raging, fiery furnace which Allah will summon forth on the day of gathering."
Other Islands
500 metres west of the southern tip of Slave Island in Western Bay is a small island called Twin Rocks, or Marzuk Kabir. A local legend suggests this is where Noah's Ark was built. This island never appears to have been built on but a map dated in the 1960's shows a jetty on the southern side
To the southwest of Twin Rocks, Jerama Rock was a very small outcrop located just 200 metres off Hedjuff, outside French Bay. It does not appear on recent satellite images so one might assume it was removed as a shipping hazard.
Round Island or Denafah as it was known locally, is in Round Island Bay on the southern side of the crater some 150 metres from shore. Nothing is presently known of the history of this small island.
An article in a Naturalist magazine says Aliyah Reef in Western Bay was the site of the old cholera quarantine station.