2S4 ASTOLA, A SUMMER CRUISE 



The island of Astola, * called also Satadip, Haft-talar, and 

 by other names by different classes of natives, lies nearly in 

 an east and west direction, about 24 miles S. W. of Pusni, 

 and 18 miles S. of the Kalmatti Creek, and the same distance 

 from the nearest land. 



From Kurrachee it is distant about 170 geographical miles, 

 and from the mouth of the Hubb river, which is the boundary 

 that divides Sind and the Mekran Coast, it lies a little north 

 of west, and distant about 152 geographical miles. 



It is about 2,800 yards in length by 1,000 yards in width 

 in the broadest part, and is surrounded by steep cliffs, the high- 

 est poiuts being about 260 feet above the sea-level. The 

 southern side is bleak, having the appearance of a barren rock of 

 whitish sandstone. On the northern side the shoals and inlets 

 abound with turtle, and here there is a low sandy cape formed 

 by the meeting of the sea from the opposite ends of the island; 

 many detached rocks or remnants of the island dotted about 

 in the sea give it further extension. It is perfectly barren and 

 has no vegetation growing upon it, with the exception of t»vo 

 or three species of Salsola, probably Sueda fruticosa and Salsola 

 GriffifJiii (called by the natives of Sind Laui), low succulent 

 bushy plants, somewhat heather-like in growth and appearance, 



much in ornithological matters, at once promised us the loan of a small Government 

 sailing vessel, not at the time in use, and Messrs. Maekinnon , Mackenzie, the Managing 

 Agents of the British India Steam Navigation Company, with that liberality which 

 uniformly characterizes all their dealings where scientific interests are concerned, 

 acceded, without a day's hesitation, to my request that the next of their steamers that 

 left Kurrachee to go up the Gulf should tow up the little sailing vessel, that the Chief 

 Commissioner had promised to lend us, to Astola. 



Before, however, these arrangements could be carried out, the Amberwitch was ordered 

 up the Gulf; and, through the kindness of the Chief Commissioner and the Commander 

 of the Amberwitch, Captain Stiffe, it was settled that Captain Butler should have 

 a passage in her, and that on her return she should call at Astola. 



I take this opportunity of thanking most cordially all those by whose kind 

 assistance my long-smotheved project of a raid upon the sea-birds of Astola has at 

 last bloomed out into full fruition — A. O. Hume. 



* The following is Captain Stiffe's account of this island. To him I am also indebted 

 for the sketch of the island at the foot of the chart. — A. O. H. 



" Astdluh l island, called also Satahih, Haft-talar, and various other names by 

 different classes of natives, is 2J miles long, east and west, by ^ mile in breadth ; it 

 is table-topped, with cliffs all round and a partly detached hill at the west, and which 

 is a little higher than the rest of the island. This peak is 260 feet above the sea and 

 visible 20 miles. The island rises perpendicularly out of the sea, except on the north 

 side, about the centre of which is a little sandy point, and at the north-west corner 

 there is a sandy spit forming a little boat harbour. There are rocky ledges off both 

 ends, and some detached rocks above water along the south face, but all are less than 

 two cables from the cliffs, and the island may be approached on all sides to three cables. 



" There is no water on the island, which is barren, and only frequented by boats 

 from Muscat, which catch fish and large numbers of turtle. 



" Sail rock. — At seven cables from the centre of the south side of Astahih is a little is- 

 let or rock, 20 feet above the water, which looks like a boat under sail. It is quite 

 steep-to, and a vessel has passed between it and the island, which passage however is 

 not recommended." 



" ' Captain Kempthorne, I. N., says this place was a rendezvous of the Persian Gulf 

 pirates, and that the remains of a look-out tower erected by them were visible in 1829." 



