Page 76 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

I

34 KISI1M----LU FT.

in lat. 27° 3' N., calculated from an indifferent observation the 1 *
being near the land at the timer it was taken. The coast then runs
\V. and W.byS. to Luft Point. There is a good channel between
Kishm and the main, about eight miles wide from the north point of
the island, and not three opposite to Old Luft, from whence it winds
among several wooded islands, until you reach Bassadore, of which I
will speak hereafter. The bottom is generally mud, and the deepest water
is near the island, but rocky ledges run a long distance from the point
of Kishm, most of which uncover at low-water. The tide falls about
twelve feet. As you approach Luft the soundings become irregular,
the bottom rocky, and the tide rapid.

Luft.
From the northern point of Luft, the coast turns abruptly to the south­
east, and, beyond that, tends westerly to the extremity of the island,
Bassadore Point bearing SW. by W., leaving a deep bay, which is
nearly filled with low islands covered with brushwood.
The harbour of Luft is secure, and the place is admirably adapted
to piratical pursuits.
The anchorage of the Chiffonne is as follows :—
Latitude, by a pretty good observation, 26° 57' NNW.; point of
the roadstead, NW.
Inderabia, a small wooded island, in one with NE. point, N. i E., Luft
SE.. 5 E., distant nearly three miles, in nine fathoms, mud.
There is a narrow but pretty deep channel within the low island,
southward of a remarkable tree, growing out of the water, which
channel leads up to the town.
Let us proceed to the southern side of the island of Kishm. Between
the town of Kishm and Angar Island the coast hollows until you
arrive off a small town, near which is a ruined pagoda, and about five
leagues from Kishm; it then runs tolerably straight to the point opposite
Angar, which, being foul, with irregular soundings, must be approach­
ed with great caution. Along the tract of coast just described it is
advisable not to stand within twenty fathoms, where in some parts the
ship will be less than two miles from the land.
most of the
From every recent account afforded by Natives of Kishm,
towns which once flourished on the island in earlier ages, and in those
later limes, too, in which the Dutch, Portuguese, and English nations
contended for an exclusive commercial and territorial possession, are
which last
now in a state of ruin ; but some are still inhabited,—among
may be reckoned Brukth, or Urukth (the ancient Oaracta of Nearc
and Arrian), which still exists in the centre of the island ; Lu t, OIJ^
northern shore ; Kishm; the present capital, on its north-eas e