ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



[Gutph of Persia. 



vessels paying alike. But in 1S18 they were revised by the Sheik, who 

 established the following rates, to be charged on all vessels visiting the port, 

 and requiring pilots, vix : 



Inner roads of Bushire — in y 1 piastre per foot ; out, the same. Inner 

 harbour of Bushire, from inner roads — m, 1 piastre per foot ; out, the same. 

 Halilah Bay — m, \ a piastre per foot ; out> the same. 



Pilot detained on board with his boat, vessel not coming into the inner 

 road, 8 piastres per day; without his boat, 2 piastres per day ; the some 

 if detained after going on board to take vessels out. Moving ships from 

 one anchorage to another, half pilotage on draught of water. 



No rice to be given to the pilot, as his right. 



Dcttes. — The import duties average about 5 per cent. Indigo pays 

 more. The duty on exports averages from 2^ to 3 per cent. British pro- 

 perty pays only half the duty on native and other property. 



Provisions and Refreshments are all brought from the interior by 

 caravans, and the town is well supplied with fruits, vegetables, and meat, 

 which are both good and cheap. A full grown sheep from I \ to 2 rupees 

 each. Oxen, which weigh from 4 to 5 cwt. each, from 6 to 8 rupees. The 

 fruits are good, such as apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, 

 and grapes. Bread, butter, milk, and vegetables are excellent, and rea- 

 sonable. The water in the town is very bad, being brackish, and brings on 

 disorders, unless mixed with spirits, lime-juice, &c, but they have some 

 good water, which is brought from the interior. There are fish of various 

 kinds in great plenty. 



Coixs. — Many European and most of the Asiatic coins pass here at the 

 same rates as at Bussorah ; but the price fluctuates in proportion to the 

 quantity of specie in the market. 



Accounts are kept in floose, mamoodies, and tomands ; 1 00 mamoodies 

 making 1 tomand. 



Weights. — Pearls are sold by the abas, a weight equal to about 31 

 diamond grains^ or 2.875 gold grains. 



BUSHEAB, or SHEIK SHAIB, in latitude 26* iff N., and ex- 

 tending from longitude 53° 19 to 53° 31' E., next to Kismis, is the largest 

 island in the Gulph,and subject to the Sheik of Nakelo, a town on the coast 

 opposite to the island Schittuar, which is separated from the E. end of 

 Busheab by a channel about g of a mile wide. Here is good anchorage; 

 but the Sheik is a predatory Chief, and not to be trusted. A shoal projects 

 from the W. end of the island to a considerable distance. 



KISMIS, or KISHMA, (boat-island), called by the Arabs Jesirct 

 Tauilk\by the Persians JesiretDraas, the largest island in the Gulph, extends 



