Page 92 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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EASSADORE.
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Bassadore Point, on which the Position is established, forms the
north-west extreme of the island of Kishm. It is a rising and plain
spot of ground, the surface of which is generally rocky or stony, and
elevated in its lowest part about twenty feet above the sea, which
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washes it on the north and west sides. From the rocky and precipitous
nature of the shore, and there being no higher ground but at the distance I
of several miles, it is a prominent and airy situation, exposed to all, and
especially the prevailing winds from the north-east and westward. i
From the natural declivity towards the Point, it is in some places low,
which appear liable to dampness in the rainy season.
The Position is destitute of fresh water, all the wells, which are
numerous in the Arab settlement that formerly existed there, being
brackish; they were found so in the early part of the last dry season.
There being several reservoirs for preserving rain-water, two of which
are at this time nearly full, it may be considered doubtful whether the
wells are ever good for more than a short time after the rainy season.
Of the two sides of the Position washed by the sea, that on the west
cannot be approached by ships, on account of the shallowness of the
water, and it is only accessible to boats at high-water, a considerable
mud-flat extending in that direction, dry at low-water. The north side
contains good anchorage ground, where ships and boats can lay well
sheltered, the former about a quarter of a mile off shore, in the
harbour formed in the channel between the Kishm and Persian shores,
and a bank close off Bassadore Point, dry at low-water; it is there­
fore considered a safe and commodious anchorage for a large number
of vessels. The landing-place is also on the north shore, but it is rather
an indifferent one, the sea receding some distance, over a muddy bottom,
and at high-water the rocky shore making the landing difficult when
any swell prevails.