Page 576 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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NAVIGATION OP THE GULP OP PEKSIA.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
In laying the following account of, and directions for, navigating the
Gulf of Persia, before the Government, it is necessary for me to state
that much of that part from Ras Musseldom to Gebil Ali, on the Coast
of Arabia, has been compiled from my Private Journals, kept prior to
my joining the survey, corroborated by such information as I have since
been able to obtain, and from the surveys themselves.
Not having been present during the greater part of the period the
above coast was examined, and my predecessor not having left me any
information on the subject, I trust that should any errors be found,
which I confidently hope, if they exist at all, do so only in a trifling
degree, I shall stand acquitted of a want of care in drawing up this
Memoir.
On the remaining part of the coast I have been constantly employed,
and consequently can vouch for the accuracy of what is there remarked
relative to navigation.
In regard to the population, religion, manners, customs, trade, and
resources, it cannot be expected that a person situated as I am, having
been at sea ever since I was eleven years of age, should be able to write
these, either in an historical manner, or with that attention to gramma­
tical rules which a person having had proper time to benefit by education
would do: what I have done is to try and place the situation, numbers,
and manners of the people [ have visited, and who are little if at all
known, in as clear a point of view as my information and abilities
would permit.
My information has been obtained in the following manner: I have
proposed to the chiefs certain questions relative to the tribes, and their
localities, of the revenues, trade, &c., which I have noted, with their
replies. This I have done to several other persons at different periods,
and then taken such of the substance as appeared to agree the best; but it
is impossible to trust to the native accounts in this part of the world, con­
sequently it can at best be considered but an approximation to the trut .
Another difficulty I consider it necessary to notice is, my s or
stay at the several places ; the different accounts, particularly as to e

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