SOCOTRA, or SOKOTRA, so-ko'tra scile 4-tra. An island in the Indian Ocean, at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden, about 147 miles cast of Cape Guardafui (Slap: Africa, K 3). It is 80 miles long and 55 miles broad. Area, 1382 square miles. The centre of the island is occu pied by the Haghier chain, attaining nearly 501)0 feet. The coasts are partly fringed by cliffs, mostly low. There is a long plain of drifted sand along the southern shore. The valleys are well watered and rich in vegetation. The cli mate. is hot and dry. The dry season lasts from Slay to October, during which time there is practically no rain in the lower parts of the island, and many of the rivers dry up entirely. The flora is of great variety and abounds in many aromatic species, such as dragon's-blood, myrrh, frankincense, aloe, etc.
There is little agriculture. The principal products of the island are butter and incense which are exported to Bombay, Zanzibar, and Arabia. The natives keep extensive herds of
goats and cows. Politically Socotra is a pro tectorate of Great Britain, but foreign control extends hardly beyond the collection of taxes. The population is estimated at 10.000-a mixed race of Arabs and Hindus who are found along the coasts, and the Sokotri, the aborigines of the island, who are also believed to be of Arabic origin, and are confined principally to the moun tainous districts. Alexander is credited by the Arab geographers with having founded a settle ment in Socotra, which came later under Persian influence. It was occupied by the Portuguese at the beginning of the sixteenth century and now forms a part of the Sultanate of Kishin. It was annexed by Great Britain in Ititifi.