Page 671 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

GULF OF PERSIA. 627

inhabitants, but ihc influence of tlie ehief, wllo is a cousin of the Imaum,
extends dvdr the Bedouins of the interior, id the amount of near ten
thousand« He is ofntore poll tidal influence and poWer thaii any chief in
tlie Irmium’s dominions. There is blood between tliemj and though
acknowledging the imaum as hife chief and sovereignj he only renders
him such obedierlcc as suits his convenience. He is a firie-iodking man,
about thirty years df age. His narrie is Souf bin Biddoo; He Was very
attentive to oitr wants, and prdfdssed much attachment id the British
tioverniricnt. His revenues are about eight to ten thousand dollars for
the places he holds on the coast, and he has about dottble that sum
from his family estates id the interior. He is rriuch beldved by his
followers, and many thilik hiril most likely to succeed the Imaum in his
Arabian territories; There are two dr thfee fdris at this places and they
dre guarded with rrtudh vigilaiice. Suik lias sorrie trade with Bussora
and the Malabar Coast, atid it impdrts large qdantities of Malabar rice
from Muskat, which is again disposed df td the Bedouins from the in­
terior, who bring down ghee and hard coin in exchange fdr It. Supplies
of cattle and poultry are irt great plenty here* as well as water; grapes
pomegranates} melons, figs* and various other fruits* as well as vegeta­
bles, are plentiful in their seasons; and fish is plentiful at all times.
The anchorage is in six fathoms, abreast the fdrtj a niile arid a quarter
off shore;
Messna.
Messriri is a small town and fort in lat: 23° 46' 20* N., lohg. 57° 45'
B; BetWeeii Suik and this place are sitUatbd successively the villages
of Gttbban, Oddamj Howiade, and Shessic* each having from fifty to
One hundred inhabitants} and under the Chief of Suik; Messna has
about a hundred and fifiy people in it} and a iitimber of coasting boats
belonging to it; Thd soUndings off the coast are quite regular; About
two miles front Messna is Hewabby, the last village before jroii come to
tile SWady or BurkU Islands. As you approach the first of the islands
the soUndings near them towards the shore are shoai.
SwAdv Islands;
The largest of the Swady Islands, usually called the Biirka Islands,
Which is highest} atid has a robk On it like a turret} is in lat. 23° 47' 10"
N;} long; 57° 53' E; There are several rocks in this group} and no
channels between them. Outside Of them, and between them and the
Islands} the SoUndirigs are front ten to eighteen fathoms} and safe to
work through.
BtiRKA IslAnd^;

The centre of tHh largest of the Burka Islands} usually callfed thfe
western range of the Swadys* is in lat; 23° §0' 20* N., long. 58° 4* E.

mm