Page 101 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

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plica iu tho lied Sea arc furnished from Suez.
The Musandim light would he actually iu sight
of Bunder Abhas. I doubt the dunger: steamers
pass by daily, and there arc our gun-boats. As
to tho relative sites, tho Quoin Islands arc low,
and might he difficult of access. Tho Navy and
Mercantile Marine favour Musandim Island; it
would also he a little safer. On political grounds,
the mainland is favoured.
Mail steamers make Musandim at night going
up; in the daytime coming down. No tramp
stoamer dares to approach Musandim at. night.
The nautical reasons why a light is very neces­
sary arc that it is often very thick and foggy at
the entrance to the Gulf, where the water is very
dee.p, and vessels cannot run into soundings.
Next, a light is badly needed on one of tho
islands between Lingah and Bushirc. Alternative
sites are (a) Has Al Mutaf, (b) Sheikh Shuaib,
(c) Keis, (d) Fnrur. Taking first Farur. it is
465 feet high, with a peculiar outline, having a
small peak in the middle. Sailors say they ean
make it out in the thickest weather. Sheikh
Shuaib and lias Al Mutaf can generally be located
by soundings. Opinion seems to be in favour of
Keis. Keis, because it is a sufficient distauce from
Bushire, and because a good course can be shaped
thence, up or down.
Thirdly, a light is required on Kubbar Island,
south of Koweit, for making Koweit Harbour.
The little beacon on the mainland at Has Al Arz
is very insufficient. All authorities, nautical and
Kubbar sland. otherwise, arc in favour of Kubbar Island, which
is the property of the Sheikh of Koweit, and
easily supplied.
As to Bahrein, there is an outer buoy, but it is
difficult to make. Sailors would like to see this
Lightship at Bahrein. buoy replaced by a lightship. The landing is
bad, and very shallow for a long distance.
Captain Pridcaux, the Political Agent, has worked
out some sort of scheme by which it might be
improved greatly at a moderate cost, I think by
reclamation of part of the foreshore. This might
be a cheap and usoful method of creating addi­
tional interests. Bahrein trade is very promising,
but better facilities arc srrcatly needed. I think
it was here that the “Viceroy of India” was
stuck on a rock for an hour or two, an incident
which passed unrecorded.

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