Page 95 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

PIIELEECIII. 53

high-water. I was induced to run this risk from information gained
from the pilot and others, that vessels would find shelter from south-
casters and south winds, not only on the east side of Phelecchi, but on
the west. I carried soundings of two and a half and two fathoms over
the mud-flat the whole way, with the exception of two casts of ten feet,
rocks, laying directly between the two islands, and, running to the
northward a short distance, anchored in what the Natives called a
Bunder, sheltered from south-east winds, in three fathoms, low-water.
This place is partially sheltered from south-east, and wholly from
south winds, but open from south-east to north. During the time I
remained there, it blew a moderate sea-breeze from south-east, without
any swell, but on its shifting to the eastward in the evening, a swell
immediately set in. East and south-east breezes have prevailed since I
came to this part of the coast, and a Native (Shaikh of Pheleechi)
informed me they have blown for the last three months with only a few
days’ intermission. I do not think it a safe anchorage for vessels
drawing more than eight feet water, as vessels drawing more would
not be able to work out, should east winds blow, and there being less
water (two and a half fathoms) to pass over after leaving it. When at
anchor in three fathoms, mud (low-water), I obtained the following
bearings and angles :—
A tomb on point near Saidee town, bearing south .. 14° 00' E. true.
High mosque in Grane, left of it........ 39 47
Said Sadoo Tomb, on mount right of it 12 36
Centre of Muchaan, right of it........... 71 15
Said Sadoo Tomb in one with west end of Toor, or Western Town, is
as far as a vessel can go with safety to the westward, as the soundings
shoal suddenly when they are open. High-water here on full and
change 12.30 ; rise and fall from six to nine feet, local causes affecting
the tides ; rapidity two and a half to three knots per hour on the
springs ; flood to the west, ebb to south-east.
The other small Bunder is on the west side of Pheleechi, distant
three to four hundred yards from the shore, and situated between the
town of Toor and Said Sadoo, or tomb on a mound of the chart: it has a
fathom and a half on it at low-water, and would shelter a small vessel
drawing less from most winds.
The island (Pheleechi) is very low, and apparently at high spring
tides broken in upon by the sea in many places, and must be a perfect
swamp during the rainy season. It has three towns on it, viz. Toor
the western, Saidee the northern, and Grane the eastern ; the former of
which is the only one at present inhabited, the other two having been
depopulated by the late plague. It contains seventy to eighty houses,
and about a hundred and fifty inhabitants,