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termed by Europeans which lye off Capo Mossuldom bear but a few leagues to the south-east
of it.
79. Had I found the small island of Anjam, which was formerly inhabited possessed
any of those requisites which would contribute to the maintenance of a flourishing settlement.
Had it in short that cither sufficient soil or water, I would certainly give it a preference to
Kishma, on account of its more convenient 6ize, from which it would be better defended by
fewer men, but the X extent of Kishma is an objection, and has x formerly urged
as such by tho Court of Directors, it is far from being a serious one at the present period is
attentively examined. A grant of the whole island would certainly be necessary, Jjut the
Ilon’blo Company might take possession of such port only in the vicinity of their settle­
ment as they chusc. Should they, however, take the whole as policy might, perhaps, require
a very small part in the present Fort at the Capital on the north-east extremity, and another
at the part of Luft nearly opposite to the harbour at Anjam, together with their principal
garrison in the fort to be erected on the shore near that port would not only keep the in­
habitants themselves in perfect order, but also prevent any attempts of neighbouring
Arabs to plunder, and this latter evil would bo further guarded against by two Cruizers
being constantly stationed at this harbour, an arrangement which I shall have occasion to shew
might be made without cither cxpeuce or inconvenience to Government.
80. Considerable changes have taken place both in India, & the Gulpli since the Court of
Directors refused to attend to the repeated Solicitations of their Servants at Gombroon to make
a settlement on the Island of Kishma.
81. The small Arab craft that were at that period almost wholly employed in acts of piracy
find now more permanent advantages in navigating the Sea as fair Traders. The Imfime of
Muscat has within these few years punished severely those Rovers who continued to
infest the Gulphs, & is now carrying on a successful War with the Shaikh of Ras ul Khima,
the only formidable pirate that remains.
82. There is now hardly a possibility of what at that period was extremely probable that
any Settlement formed in the Persian Gulph by the English would have been liable to an attack
from the French or other European Nation in the event of a War. Under such idea al large
Island was no doubt unfavourable for a Settlement particularly as it was hoped that the
Persians in case of a rupture X have been able by the aid of an European power to have
transported & subsisted their Army upon it whilst carrying on the attack of its Forts. But as
such changes have now occurred may it not be urged with much plausibility that it is an
advantage to settle on an Island like Kishma able to maintain itself independant of the Con­
tinent, and capable also of being improved to a great degree. That it has abundance of Water
& a good soil, I learn from the Inhabitants themselves & their numbers with the large planta­
tions pf Date Trees and grain sufficiently confirm their evidence. I had not leisure to go
on shore from the Frigate when lying in the Harbour between it Sc Anjam but three small
villages situated near the beach, within a mile of each other & some plantations of date Trees,
convinced mo that there would be no difficulty in fixing on a spot that would answer for a
settlement. Of the healthiness of the climate I can of course speak only from tho Information
of others. I was told by those I asked that the air was more salubrious and temperate at all
Seasons than that of Hormuz or Gombroon. Among my Informants were several natives, 8s
their appearances fully corroborated their assertions. I shall here add some advantages which
this Port appears to possess some situation above all others in the Gulph, particularly those
which would have a direot tendency to make it the Emporium between India, Persia 8c Arabia.
88. The Harbour between Kishma 8s Anjam is at most seasons of the year, as x
a run from Bombay, as Muscat, 8c indeed when the difficulty of getting into Muscat X
8c the favourable winds which vessels generally secure by keeping to the northwind, 8c close
in with the 6horc is considered. The Voyage I am inclined to believe will be performed sooner
8s certainly with much more ease 8c confidence by the ships x and small Craft of Natives
who fear x out of sight of land. It is to be far x considered that when
Goods from Bombay reach Muscat, they have to perform a voyage of at least lour, 8c pro­
bably six, days in the most favourable Season before they reach the leugth of this Port in their *