Page 151 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

AD RED—CRANE. 100
cannot be approached l>y our vessels of war within a distance of
between three and four miles. Its defences consist of a small square
fort, with two towers, in the centre of the town. On the right is a line i
of four towers, at some distance from each other, running towards the
foot of the hills. Within these, again, and near the beach, are two
other detached towers, which, with one at the back of the town, com­
plete the defences on this side. The other is protected only by a sort
of square block-house, which, situated upon a small elevation, commands
the wells from which the place is supplied with water. In point of
appearance it would, perhaps, be difficult to select a more wretched, I i
desolate, and barren-looking spot in the whole of the Gulf.
Grane* or Koweit.
!
Grane or Koweit is situated at the north-west end of the Persian
Gulf; has an excellent harbour, capable of containing the navy of Great
Britain ; without, however, any other advantage. The country around
is a salt and sandy desert, of the most barren and inhospitable descrip­
tion, without a tree or shrub visible as far as the eye can reach, except
a few bushes which mark the wells, of which the water is particularly
salt and bad.
Although wanting in almost every advantage, this town presents a
singular instance of commercial prosperity. Its population consists of
nearly 25,000 inhabitants, who possess 31 Buggalows and Buteels, from a
hundred and fifty to three hundred tons burthen, which trade constantly
with India; 50 smaller boats are employed in the coasting commerce
of the Gulf, and about 350 boats are engaged in fishing on the pearl
banks. It can produce about 6,000 men capable of bearing arms.
The energy and courage of the people, who are closely united, and
free from feuds and factions, render them respected and feared by all.
the other maritime tribes; and as, in fact, they are as prompt to resent
insult or aggression towards themselves as they are cautious in refrain­
ing from injury and annoyance towards their peaceable neighbours, a
i piracy upon a Grane boat is of rare occurrence.
The Shaikh Subah, to whom the* management of affairs has been
made over by his father Salir, collects no taxes or customs, the port
being entirely free ; a small duty, levied upon the sales and purchases
of the Bedouins who resort to the town, constitutes the only revenue
realized by him, amounting to about 3,000 dollars annually.
It is quite unsuited for a military station, from the badness of its water.
As a naval station, the same objection would not exist in a similar
degree, the vessels of war watering at other places on the coast. From
the character of its harbour, it would answer well as a coal depot.

* A Trigonometrical Plan of Grane is given at. page 52 of this Selection,

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