Page 317 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

298 COAST OF ARABIA. [ClI.

able during two-thirds of the year, yet it was
inconsiderately rejected in favour of the for­
mer, which had never been tried, and where

success was extremely problematical. Colonel
Chesney has reached Bussorah, and, as far
as published reports enable us to judge, the
intricacies of its channel—the shallowness of
the water—the rapidity of its current—and
the fury of the Desert tornadoes which
sweep over it, will render its adoption at
certain seasons most difficult if not imprac­
ticable. On this subject, however, a differ­

ence of opinion still exists; and to place it
beyond doubt, his Majesty’s government have
lately despatched a second mission under
Lieutenant Lynch of the Indian navy, to
whose indefatigable exertions, and intimate
acquaintance with the language and manners
of the natives, the former expedition, of
which he commanded the naval portion, was
greatly indebted. Such qualities eminently
fit him for the duty he has now proceeded

on, and which has also for its object the at­
taining a political ascendancy over the seve­

ral tribes on the basin of the Euphrates. He