Page 77 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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LUFT — ANGATt.
extremity ; and Basidu, originally possessed by the Dutch, on its
south-western point. A few villages, ’ also, besides these towns, are
scattered over the interior of the island. "Water from springs is abundant,
and contributes to the fertility of the soil, which produces large crops
of barley, wheat, and vegetables of all kinds.
In the declivity of its hills, delicious honey is. found ; in its valleys
are large date groves, and the soil of these situations has been found to
be favourable for the production of the European fruits, which are
transplanted from the Persian continent.
Its peasantry is composed chiefly of Persians, who speak their
national dialect, and also comprehend the Arabic, from their intercourse
with the tribe Bani Main, the governors of the island, as well as with
the Arab tribes who occupy the whole of the opposite or Persian shore :
the Natives are highly industrious.
Previous to the reign of Karim Khan, this island belonged to the Kings
of Persia, and was kept immediately dependent on the nearest depart­
ment of Bastak; so named from this town, which is nine Furseekhs
(thirty-live miles) distant northerly from the port of Mogoo, westward
of Lingah. This department extended from Mogoo to Bunder Abbas,
a port on the Persian main, directly north of the town of Kishm.
When Karim Khan reached the throne of Persia, Abdoolla Maini
rebelled, and refused payment of the usual tribute. Previous to this,
however, a prince of the Ilinavi tribe of Oman held the government for
eight years, at the close of which it was resumed by the Persians.
The veins of brimstone are found in a hilly tract nearKhamir, a town
on the Persian continent, about twenty-five miles NE. from Luft.
Angar,
Angar, situated on the south side of Kishm, nearly midway between
its extremes, is an island moderately high, nearly round, and about four
miles long. Its south point is in lat. 26° 37' N.
There is a channel between this island and Kishm, more than a mile
wide, which forms a very excellent anchorage, and as you round the
northern point of Angar, proceeding to the southward is a capacious
bay, with a muddy bottom : this bay is open to sea winds, but there is a
flat of six fathoms, which runs from the western point of Angar towards
Kishm, which in my opinion would break the force of the sea ;__at any
rate, ships riding here, and caught by a gale, have only to slip their
cables, and run into the sound, where they would be securely sheltered.
This operation might be performed at night as well as in the day-time,
by taking the precaution to send a boat to anchor with a light in five
fathoms, ofF the sandy point which forms the northern end of^Angar.
To run into the sound from the south-east, keep one-third channel

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