Gulph of Persia.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



93 



and other places in the Gulph, as well in Arabia as Persia and Bussorah. The 

 number of inhabitants is stated to be 20,000. 



The entrance of the river is about 3 miles broad ; yet near the town it 

 is not navigable (even for boats at low water) a hundred yards across. 

 Vessels that draw more than 9 feet, cannot come into the river at high 

 water ; those of less draught may go above the town. The road where 

 ships lie, is directly fronting the river, there being 2 or 3 fathoms three 

 miles from the shore. There are many channels in the entrance of the road, 

 between which there are not above 8 or 10 feet, so that ships of any great 

 burden anchor at least 2 leagues from the shore in about 4 fathoms, with 

 a soft muddy bottom. The road is quite open ; and when strange ships 

 arrive, they should make signals for a pilot from the town, as all ships 

 bound to Bussorali call here, and take a pilot, while those that come from 

 Bussorali, put their pilots on shore at Bushire. The navigation here is 

 dangerous, as the Charts are not always correct* A vessel was last year 

 wrecked in consequence of the island Zazarini being incorrectly laid down 

 in the Charts of the Persian Gulph. Its true position is stated to be in 

 latitude 2T 57' N., longitude 50° 19 E., the Island of Kenn bearing S. W. 

 by compass, 14 miles. 



Traue. — From Bombay, Bengal, Muscat, and other places, are im- 

 ported piece-goods similar to those enumerated at Bussorah ; likewise bam- 

 boos, cotton, cotton yarn, cardamums, cloves, cinnamon, China ware, 

 cassia buds, coflee, China campliire, ginger, indigo, iron, lead, musk, 

 nutmegs, pepper, red lead, sugar, sugar candy, steel, shawls, silk goods, 

 turmeric, tutenague, tobacco, tin, and woollens. A considerable part of 

 these importations is supposed to be for Turkey and Arabia, as well as this 

 part of Persia : of Indian manufactures the quantities imported into Bushire 

 are small compared with those of Bussorah, but of the European commodi- 

 ties a much larger proportion. 



Very few of the products of Persia being suitable to the Indian market, 

 the returns are principally made in Persian and Turkish coins, Venetian 

 sequins, German crowns, and gold and silver in bars. About one-fifth of 

 the imports are estimated to be returned in Persian commodities, consisting 

 of drugs of various kinds, carpets, rose-water, otto of roses, Schiraz 

 wine, &ec. # 



Regulations. — All vessels under the British flag are subject to the 

 British Resident at Bushire, who must be waited upon at first arrival, and 

 his certificate obtained before sailing. 



Rates of Pilotage. — These rates were formerly a source of contention, 

 from their being partly paid in rice, and partly in money, and all classes of 



