Page 11 - Journl (Royal Geographical Society)_Neat

276 On the Eastern Shores of the Persian Gulf * (he Eastern Shores of the Persian Gulf
East were wafted in such abundance. I could not help thinking
Milton's lines in < Paradise Lost/ where he describes.;Satari|S^M|^v<^
throne as far exceeding the wealth of Ormuz W
Or where the gorgeous east, with richest hand, • • v:V -
Showers on her kings barbaric gold and pearl, ' ‘
Satan exalted sat.” ” • - " ■
The miserable appearance which it now presents hr1 si
plete contrast to its once opulent state. There ?.? ekceirent
chorage on the northern side of tbs towwj where a vessel
lie sheltered from all winds in three 'fathoms raitd, within half.
mile of the shore. A large vessel may also, anchor in sls
about two miles off. The harbour'is-perfectly freefrom
and rocks, and may be entered with safety, keeping"rather
to the island than to the Persian shore;'‘ W« anchored about thr
quarters of a mile off the fort with the following bearings: Orrau^^^M|||||§S
lighthouse, S. 12° W.; extremes of the island, from' S. 4StlW.
S 50° e’ ' . - and -picturesque appearance, rather a novelty for this part of
Gombroon was also once among the largest seaport-towns
the Persian empire; but of late years its trade, too, has much
dined. It is situated in a barren and desolate country, nearly
the entrance of the gulf, in the province of Laristdn. The town/"
surrounded by a mud wall, is about three-quarters of a mile in cir-ffV fggSB
cumference ; the houses are flat-roofed, and more commodiously?/:^.^^^
built than those on the coasts of Sind and Makrdn, but the 8treeU^:?'i|jj$|^B
as in all oriental towns, are very narrow and dirty. The heat
the summer is also very oppressive, and the chief inhabitants^
during; that season, remove either to the mountains or to Min£w/‘*:|?3g||ra;
the climate here being unhealthy. Fever and ague are the most^^SragB
prevalent diseases, and prove fatal to many of its inhabitants. ^SsIb
The English, Dutch and French had large factories here for
long period; but, owing to some dispute amongst the natives, the- pSgjijjp
factories were destroyed, and the place was abandoned by Euro* .-£§5
peans, the trade being removed to Bushire, a large town in the
upper part of the gulf. The remains of their factories are stilffe^
visible a short distance from the town; but the Dutch is the
one m a state of preservation. It is situated in the town, and the^S
sheikh has converted it into a residence for himself. The biirying-^^^
ground belonging to it appears to have been very extensive; andg|{
some of the tombs- are still nearly entire: ' They are built in the/|g|
form of domes and pyramids; but we could fin’d nor inscription bn*^S
^ * Hormuz was originally on the main-1 and.where Gamrfin now stands. Its inhnv.j^ by a sheikh^, and is 'surrounded by a high mud wall-flanked with
bitants were transferred to. the island till then called Jex&aor GerGn—the Ghrnnh^ t
of Strabo (xvi.); io that Gyrioa is probably the true reading in Arrian. (Ind^i?
p. 352.)
277
any of them,, and the Arabs, we were informed, had taken pains to
deface them^flThe ^anc^ at-the back of the town is very high ; and
during the. cold' season the tops of the mountains are covered with
snow. This land is indeed the highest in the whole of the southern
part of Pertii% It may be seen in a clear day at the distance of
sixty miles, ?^There is good anchorage off the town, where a vessel
may be perfectly sheltered. We anchored with the following bear­
ings: Sheikt?B,house, N.6° W.; Ormuz, centre, S.E.b.JE.: Larak
Peak.{.j!4
> •
Jiisfim 'i^ibe largest island in the Persian Gulf,.‘and is situ­
ated, a bou time miles to the southward of Gomroon, It is sixty
mile? Jong, (but in the widest part does not exceed twelve : it is
separated.from the main land by a narrow channel, very intricate,
but navigable for the largest ships ; it would be impossible, h ow-
ever, to attempt.to sail through, unless with a fair wind, and-a pilot
who thoroughly understands the place. There are many.small
islands between it and the main, all low and covered with, wood,
in sailing among them trees are thus on either side, having a green
Persia.' Tke^ soundings are irregular, varying from twelve to four
fathoms. r;’
Boats from all parts of the gulf come to Kishm for wood,
and the island once contained upwards of two hundred villages
and towns ; but now it cannot boast of one-half of that number. It
is chiefly inhabited by Arabs, and belongs to the Imdm of JMas-
kat. The natives live by fishing and agriculture, and the island
produces dates, wheat, and vegetables, sufficient for their subsist­
ence,-'- with a. few grapes, mangoes, and water-melons. They have
few cattle and sheep, but goats are, bred in considerable numbers,
and thrive well. The island is much iufested with jackals, which
prowl about by night, teariug up the dead bodies from the burying
ground and carrying off goats; the natives are thus obliged to
bring in their; flocks at sunset and confine them in an inclosed
place. Antelopes, partridges, and rock-pigeons also abound, and
wild fowl are frequently seen in the winter season. This was
called by the .ancients Oaracta. Nearchus describes it as a large
island, full.eight hundred stadia in length, well inhabited, pro­
ducing vines,.corn, and palm-trees. Iu this island Arrian asserts
that the sepulchre of its first monarch was said still to remain;
his.name, wasAErythras, and from him the sea was called Mare
Erytfineum; ^many-attempts have been made to discover the tomb,
but without;,,'auccess. The town of Kishm is situated on the
southern extremity of the island: it is rather large, and is governed
towers, on vvKich a few old guns are mounted to protect the town.
The houses are flat-roofed, and the streets narrow and dirty; its