Page 119 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

Lieutenant Thomas Tanner's Memoir, 1817 109

UAIIRKIN ISLAND, situated at the enhance of Docmt Es Elva, was visited in Oc­ Il.-ilircin
■ >l.-iii.1. irilli
tober, LSI*/, l>y Lieut. T. Tanner of the Company’s UombtiY cruizcr, Psyche, and the lol- ilimlMn..
lowiug directions for vessels proceeding to that Island, arc transcribed Iruui his interesting
and valuable observations :*
Departing from Herdistan Dank with the Hummocks of Kenn N. E., and Barn Hill
List, steer 8. by W. .{• W. by compass, which is thought to be the best course. Having
approached the parallel of 27° N., keep a trusty person at the mast-head to look out lor
shoals or discoloured water, which from aloft can generally he seen at a considerable dis­
tance: here, also, thy lead must be kept briskly going, for by steering the course mentioned
above, you will get upon the Pkaul or Daiiulin Dank, in about lat. 26° 50' N., sud­
denly shoaling from 50 aud 25, to 14, 10, or probably to 8 fathoms water on a sandy
bottom.
With a favourable wind or in the night, keep under reduced sail, to obtain true soundings,
and be ready to anchor instantly if you get less water limn was expected. The soundings,
|io\vcvcr, as you proceed to the southward, will be from .9 to 8 fathoms, with overfalls oc­
casionally from 5):i to 7 fathoms. Attention to the tides is necessary, which run strong
on tin: springs, particularly as you approach the Islands, and they set about E. 8. E. and
W.N.W.
Willi an adverse wind, work between the meridians of 50° 45# and 51° 5' E., which space
may he considered the Fair-way ; for on either side of these limits there arc dangers, the
extent and true situation of which are unknown to European navigators.
In lat. 2()° 5()' N. Ion. 51° 10' E. the favorite sloop of war had 6 fathoms rocky hot-
tom, which was thought to be on the edge of the Crescent Shoal: betwixt this, and the
shoals to the Westward (on one of which the Durable was lost, shortly to be described),
may lie considered the Fair Channel, as mentioned above. In this Fair Channel there ap­
peals to lie iio danger until you approach the Islands; and when in lat. 2(5° 30' N. or 26°
28' N., you will see from the deck the trees on An ad Island, called Bluff' Point, bearing
lo the S. Westward, and distant 3 or 4 leagues, in soundings from 8 to 5-J fathoms. If
bound to the N.W. anchorage, haul up a point lo the Westward of Arad, hut a point lo the
Southward of it if bound to the S. E. anchorage: you will then soon raise the Island of
Bahrein, which is somewhat higher than Arad, and lies more lo the West.
ARAD ISLAND, extends nearly North and South, being very low, surrounded by the
Jki.i.ia Siioai.s and other Reefs, which stretch out from it 4, or nearly 5 miles in some
places, particularly in a N.W. direction from BlulV Point; for if this Point bear S. E. by
S., mul a Portuguese Fori (in ruins on the Western part of Dahrein) S.W. — S., you will be
in fathoms on the Western edge of Arad ltccf, with the Rocks visible under the vessel,
lo avoid these Reefs in proceeding to the N.W. anchorage, haul to the Westward towards
the 'Icignnmuth's Shoal, till Portuguese Fort bears S. S.W. \ W. or S. S.W., which seems
to be a good trailing mark lo avoid the dangers on either side. Tcignmouth’s Shoal is an
extensive reel lo the N.W. of Arad Reef, and 3 leagues North of Bahrein, being the outer­
most of the shoals, and Dahrein Reef nearly joins to its S.Western extremity.

% Communicated lo me by Lieut, James Robinson, of the Company's Bombay Marine, an ofliccr who by
perseverance, with very lit lie assistance, and in a gun-bout only, lias completed a laborious and correct survey
of the greatest part of the coasts of Uanca.
8 S 2