SECTION X.

GULPH OF PERSIA.

THE entrance into the Gulph of Persia is between Cape Mussendom (or Ras el Djebel) in Arabia, on the S. side, in latitude 26° 21′ N., and longitude 56° 38′ E., and Cape Jasques in Persia, in latitude 25° 38′ N., and longitude 58° 10' E., on the N. side.

On the Arabian side of the Gulph, the coast, extending upwards of 400 miles, from Cape Mussendom to the Bahreen Islands, is denominated the Pirate Coast.

RAS EL KHIMA, the capital of the Pirate Coast, is in latitude 25° 47' N. and longitude about 56° E. The town stands on a sandy peninsula, defended in the isthmus by a well-flanked battery with square towers, the sea-line defended by batteries of one gun each at regular intervals between the point and the wall, comprising a space of about 1 mile. Many date-trees are within the walls, and huts, built of their leaves and bamboo supports, form a suburb to the town of flat-roofed houses. There are several castles, one of which is the residence of their Chief, and another a protection for naval stores, &c.

BAHREEN ÍSLANDS.-These Islands were surveyed about six years back by Lieut. Tanner. The S. E. anchorage, between the Debil and Jellia Shoals, lies in latitude 26° 11′ or 26° 12′ N., and being sheltered by the surrounding reefs, is preferable, though difficult of access, and it would be imprudent to enter the intricate channel without a pilot, who will come off at the signal of a gun at the edge of the reef. The chief Island, called BAHREEN, is well cultivated: the N. shore runs nearly E. and W. Its principal town, called Manama, is at its E. end. It is large and populous, the buildings well constructed, and the appearance of it more decent than any in the Gulph. Its bazar is good, and well supplied with fine cattle, poultry, fish, grain, vegetables, and fruit.

ARAD, another of the Islands, lies nearly N. and S., is very low and sandy, and surrounded by the Jellia Shoals and other reefs, extending 4 or 5 miles. A narrow isthmus divides it into two parts, and which is sometimes overflowed. The N. part is called Sommahee, and the S. division, on which the town is built, Maharag. Ferry boats keep up the communication.

Near the isthmus is a village called PSETINE, with a small flat islet upon a bank in front of it.

The Port of Bahreen carries on considerable trade, and appears a place of great resort, particularly by the Arabs. A great many vessels are seen in the port. In 1817, thirty-nine large boats were counted, fit either for war or traffic, besides several building, and some absent at sea. The people were friendly and hospitable, though they are addicted to piracy. Lieut. Tanner experienced from the principal merchants the greatest kindness. The Saikh of Bahreen refuses to acknowledge the supremacy of Persia, and suffers none of the coin in the Islands to bear the titles of the Persian Sovereign.

TRADE.-At these Islands is the greatest and most valuable pearl fishery in the world. The pearl banks commence in about 25° N. latitude, and extend to 26° 40′ N.

The fishery generally commences in June, and lasts about two months. It is carried on by the Persians, and the divers are Persians.

The duty on what is taken, is one third to the Sovereign, which the collector receives every day, either pearls, or their equivalent in money, as the divers, or those who contract with them, can agree. It sometimes happens that a diver, or contractor, makes his fortune in a season. The boats are all numbered, and no oysters are allowed to be opened in a boat, but must be brought on shore by a certain hour, when they are opened in the presence of an officer. The pearls which are found, are then carried to the collector, who receives the duty, and the day's business is concluded.

The oyster banks have from 15 to 30 feet water on them, and some more. It frequently happens that a man will bring up 300 to 400 oysters in a day, and not find as many pearls as are worth five shillings; as there are more which have not any, than those that have, and of these many have only small pearls, which are denominated seed pearl.

The oyster shells are always the property of the divers, whether they fish for themselves, or contract with others. Some of these shells are from 8 to 10 inches in diameter, nearly of a round form, and thick in proportion. The oysters are seldom eaten, as they are generally rank. The sorts and sizes vary so much, that the smallest are not two inches in diameter: these are eaten by the people on the spot. The largest shells have not always the greatest quantity, nor do they contain the largest pearls, as neither the size nor colour indicates their contents, it being mere chance. The round pearls are always found in the fleshy part of the oyster, and many of those which have an irregular shape: some adhere to the inner part of the shell, which are deformed, and flat on that side which is attached to it.

The shells are bought on the spot, and sent to different parts of Persia, from whence they are sent up the Red Sea, and from thence to Grand Cairo and Constantinople. Many are carried to India, and from thence to China, where they are manufactured into a great variety of neat and useful articles.

The pearls produced here are not so much esteemed in Europe as those of Ceylon, having a yellowish hue; but the natives of India prefer them. They say they always retain their original colour: whereas the white will in a few years become darker, from the heat of the weather, and that of the person wearing them.

PROVISIONS AND REFRESHMENTS.-Plenty of cattle and fine large sheep are here procurable, at higher prices than at other ports in the Gulph. Rice is scarce and dear. There are numerous springs of excellent water in the interior of Bahreen, but at too great distance from Manama for easy supply to shipping, The only water used on Arad is brought up in skins, by the pearl-divers, from the bottom of the sea, in 3 fathoms, where there is a fine spring of good fresh water, with the top of a jar fitted to the mouth of it, through which the water gushes. From this mode of procuring it, water can seldom be obtained quite fresh.

CATIF, OR EL KATIF.-The town is situated in latitude about 26 36 N., longitude 50° 12′ E., at the W. extremity of a bay of the same name, which extends a considerable distance inland, having in it the small island and town of KARUD or TARUD. It is said to be a good harbour, and a place of some trade, but is seldom visited by Europeans.

GRANE. This town and harbour are situated in latitude 29° 24' N., longitude about 47° 48′ E., about 18 leagues from the entrance of Bussorah River. The town, or village, is on the S. side of a small river, and here the Company's cruisers generally wait the arrival of the overland dispatches from Europe. The haven, which stretches far inland, is considered secure in most winds; but its shores are lined with reefs. The anchorage is W. of the village, in 5, 6, or 7 fathoms.

BUSSORAH, OR BASRA.-This town is situated in a plain, about three miles from the great river of Arabia, from which a creek runs into the city, navigable at high water for vessels of 50 or 60 tons, and is in latitude 30° 30′ N., and longitude 47° 40′ E., taken at the factory: the difference of latitude between the town and the bar at the entrance of the river, is about 34 miles. It is about 100 miles from the Persian Gulph, into which that river empties itself, and about 90 miles from Korna, the extreme point of Mesopotamia, where the rivers Tigris and Euphrates unite. The river is about half a mile broad from Bussorah Creek to the Persian shore.

The city is walled, and surrounded with a deep and broad ditch; it has four gates and a sally-port. The walls are of mud, from 20 to 25 feet thick, with parapet walls, breast-high, which have small embrasures for musketry or arrows. The walls not only encircle the city on the side of the land, but likewise on those of the creek, the entrance of which is at a considerable distance, where the walls terminate on both sides, each extremity being defended by a fortification and a gate, which are three miles distant from the town. In the intermediate space are many thousands of date-trees, mixed with rice grounds. The walls are about 12 miles in circuit; and although not half the enclosed space is built upon, yet it is a large city, and was formerly very populous. The two principal gates are large, and are situated on the land side; one is called the Bagdad, and the other the Zobeir Gate; neither of them is defended by a ditch, which is wanting for a considerable distance on each side. The foundation of the walls, which is built of burnt brick, reaches so high, as to be above the water when the ditch is full. The water is let into the ditch at the flood tide from the creek, and is retained by flood gates.

The mosques and houses are all built of burnt brick; many houses belonging to the merchants are large and convenient, being only one story high above the ground-floor, which consists of a hall facing the gate; on each side of which are magazines and warehouses for the reception of merchandise.

The meydan, or great square, is very large, and is not only used for exercising horses, but as the great corn market, where wheat, and all kinds of grain and pulse are sold, wholesale. On one side of the meydan is the Seraglio, or Governor's palace, which is very large, but not a handsome building.

The British factory is a good and convenient building, situated on the banks of the creek, full three miles from its mouth, where vessels of 80 tons may unload their cargoes at the gate of the factory. At the side of the creek is a good garden; and about 5 miles' distance from the Bagdad gate, the Company's agent has a country house, called Margil, distant about a quarter of a mile from the banks of the river.

TRADE. From its convenient situation, Bussorah is a place of great trade, as merchants can here purchase the produce of most parts of India, Persia, and Arabia, at the first hand, they being imported directly from the place of their growth and manufacture. There are a number of Armenian and other merchants resident here, who carry on a considerable commerce with all the ports of India, by caravans to Aleppo and Bagdad, and from thence to Constantinople. The trade between India and Persia is very

considerable. The demand for British manufactures is comparatively small; the most valuable part is supplied from Europe by caravans across the desert. The expence of carriage, including the insurance from risk, and the duties paid the wandering tribes, &c. is very moderate. It is impossible that a cargo of European goods to any extent could be found capable of being disposed of in all or any ports in the Gulph. A recent account states, the articles of British manufacture suited to the Persian market, to be woollens, metals, chiefly iron and lead, and glass ware, including cut lustres, decanters, &c. A considerable part of the goods imported into Bussorah from India is, no doubt, for Turkey and other parts, as well as Persia; but as most of those articles are also imported into Bushire (the Indian manufactures, however, in small quantities, but the others in a much larger proportion), some of these necessary for the supply of Persia, are of considerable value, and naturally entitled to a preference over woollens or other European articles; whilst, on the other hand, the greater part of the products and manufactures of Persia is not suitable to the Indian markets. They consist of horses, pearls, silks, brocades, carpets, manufactures of steel, sword blades, spear heads, gun barrels, glass, rose-water, otto of roses, cotton cloths, shawls, skins, raw silks, some indigo, tobacco, rhubarb, drugs of different sorts, dried fruits, iron, copper, Caramania wool, wines, and some trifling articles; to which must be added Persian and Turkish coins, Venetian sequins, German crowns, and gold and silver in bars. India is therefore a constant drain upon Persia for its gold and silver, as scarce one third of the imports can be returned to India in the produce of Persia.

Surat piece-goods form the largest item in the list of imports from India. Fine Bengal muslins, as well as fine Surat piece-goods, and the finer sorts of Guzerat goods, go off well. The first-mentioned are sold to merchants, who come from different parts of Turkey. The red and blue goods are the consumption of Bussorah, and places adjacent. It is necessary to observe, that the sooner these goods are provided at Surat, the cheaper they will turn out; and by being early at market, you will have the advantage of chusing or procuring the goods of a finer quality than when the monsoon is far advanced, or at the latter end of it.

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INSTRUCTIONS RELATIVE TO THE TRADE AT BUSSORAH.

Immediately upon your arrival, use dispatch in going up to town, and procure boats for your cargo; for which you will apply to the Chief, who generally sends down boats, called dunnocks; but have trankeys, as they are less liable to be stopped in the river, which frequently happens when dunnocks are sent.