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143. As.to a complete survey of the river, the British Minister telegraphed
to the Viceroy on the 2nd January 1889—
“A rough survey has been made locally. This’will, I think, do for the present, as the
Governor of Arabistan is hostile and might make mischief. French have appointed Consul at
tiushirc. Queen has invited Shah to England. Russians still very active and might
make mischief."
143. In February 1890, the British Minister, at the instance of the Resident
at Bushire, proposed to the Government of
Secret E., November 1890, Noj. *9*57.
India that a survey of the Bamishir should
be made. The Shah had no objection to the proposal.
144. A survey was made, with the sanction of the Secretary of State, of the
approaches of the Shat-el-Arab and the
Secret E., January 1891, Nos. 35-45.
Bamishir as a preliminary step to the
survey of the latter by R. I. M. ships the Lawrence and the Comet. The former
survey was completed in December 1890, and also an examination and
rough sketch was made by Lieutenant Dunn of the Bamishir river, which
established the fact that there was no prospect of obtaining a channel for ocean
steamers by that river. And as the Lawrence was required by the Resident
elsewhere, no further survey was made.
145. The Turkish Government complained to the British Ambassador that
British gun-boats had been taking sound­
Secret E., May 1891, Ncs. 87.123.
ings near the Fao fort without giving
previous notice to the local authorities. It was ascertained by the Resident at
Baghdad that the operations complained of were connected with the recent
survey, but that no soundings had been taken within four miles of the fort,
except such as the ordinary practice of seamen would require for the safe navi­
gation of their vessels (despatch No. 42, dated nth March 1891, to the
Secretary of State).
146. Our records from 1892 to 1899 are practically silent as to any survey
operations conducted in the Persian Gulf. As regards surveys since the year
1900, we must read Chapter IX of the Precis on International Rivalry and
British Policy.

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