Page 304 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

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ably exists, but as it lies on tlic direct track of steamers calling at Lingah and passing
thence up and down gulf, the determination of this shoal seems very desirable, ft
is also alleged that between the shoal and Ras Bo >stanah, there arc one or more patches
close inshore, which arc not marked on the chart. This question might also be determined
simultaneously with that of the Pollior Shoal.
ythly—Some few years ago a merchant craft was burnt and sunken in the four and
half fathom line a little to the southward of the entrance of the inner roads at Bushirc. This
wreck still lies in the fair-way channel of vessels passing to and fro the Busrch river
from Bushirc ; and it would be very convenient for commerce if the wreck were blown up or
otherwise removed.
Slhly.— There are .the channels leading into the Shat-ul-Arab or Busrch River, and
rather more to the westward another Kliore or creek called Core Abdoollah, from which,
passing in a south-westerly direction, lies the
Vult my Report No. 1190-339, dat.-d 13th Oc­ harbour of Koweit. As already submitted in a
tober 1671.
previous report, I think that the question of a
railway from the Mediterranean to the head of the Persiin Gulf may soone** or later attract
increased attention to the shore line thus summarized. And as Mr. \V. Parkes, Civil
Engineer, has recently favoured me, after personal, though hurried, inspection of its
localities, with his opinion on this shore line, I venture to subjoin his remarks as being cf
far more practical weight than any which 1 could pretend to olfer :—
“ We made a successful attempt to enter Koweit and an unsuccessful one to enter Core
Abdoollah,
“The latter was provoking, but I do not think it is of much real consequence, because
I am sure it would be impossible to speak confidently of that place as a terminus for the
railway without much more information than at present cx;sts. The doubtful points are
precisely those which require a systematic survey for their solution.
“The cause of our failure was this: Captain Avern and myself had quite understood
that the pilot would take the ship up to the head of the Core, but when we had gone a
short distance he got frightened and refused to go further. We had already found that the
chart was useless as a guide. There is not a single fixed point visible from which we could
determine our position. So all we could do was to come out again.
*' Wi 1 you allow me to suggest that it would be very desirable to have the positions
of the buoys at the entrance to the Shat-el-Arab, and of the Telegraph Station at Fao,
accurately determined by independent solar observation. The correctness of the chart
would thus be tested, and if it was verified it would be really useful, which it is not at present
u The head of Koweit Bay is undoubtedly suitable for a station for Indian Mail Steam­
ers, and the necessary accommodation could be afforded at no extravagant cost, but it is
probable Core Abdoollah would answer still better, and it certainly deserves further exam­
ination.
“The chart of Ko.veil is faulty. We distinctly saw a spit running nearly across the
head of the Bay of which the chart gives no indication ; and in • another part 1 found the
depths decidedly less than shown on the chart. The mode of shewing the hills on shore
is also misleading. They will offer no impediment to the railway approach as I had feared
they might. The shore due north of the town of Koweit will not do for the station as l
had hoped.
gthly,—Proceeding southward from Koweit along the Arabian shore line, we come
on a length of reefy, dirty ground, which appears to have been left partially unsurveyed.
There is, I believe, a channel inshore of these reefs, and l am told that a Turkish steamer
of light draught recently passed down the channel to Kateef, but this tract is so apart
from our present ordinary lines of navigation that, as I observed before, I should not deem
myself justified in advocating any immediate outlay on its survey.
iothly.—A survey of the reefs on the shore lines of Kateef and Bahrein has already
been ordered by Government, and the Turkish Commodore informs me it is his intention
to organize a Turkish survey of the Ojairand Kateef shore line, and then to draft the
officers of the survey into the ships of the squadrou in view to providing every ship with a
competent Turkish pilot.
nth.—Passing round Ras Rekkan to the southward of Bahrein, we open a wide inden­
tation of coast between that Cape and the shore line known as the Pirate Coast. 1 his
indentation is sprinkled with frequent islets and reefs, in the survey of which great labour
was, I believe, expended by the survey officers of the late Indian Navy. It is possible
that the survey of this intricate indentation may not be complete, but I should not be
prepared to recommend further outlay on it for the present.
7. In conclusion, when we consider the climate and intricacies of the Persian Gulf,
and that the survey of it was executed with sailing vessels, and wholly without the aid of
steam, it is, in my opinion, astonishing how accurate and in what detail the survey is found
to be.