38 
CHAPTER HI. 
Ihe town of Bushire rises conspicuous from the surrounding flat, 
and in spite of its wind chimnies'^, which give it an air of some con¬ 
sequence, is in fact little better than a collection of clay houses, sur¬ 
rounded by walls and towers of the same materials. There is little 
appearance of cultivation on the shore in its immediate vicinity; and 
the only object which breaks in upon the uniformity of the white soil, 
is the lank and perpendicular date tree, tufted at its summit with a 
little dusty verdure. Seldom is this dull view enlivened by any moving 
thing. Now and then may be seen a meagre Arab, riding solitary over 
the desert on his ass, or sitting down under a date tree, whilst his 
camels are feedino; around him. 
Dreariness, solitude, and heat, are indeed the chief characteristics, 
not only of this town, but of all the shores of the Persian Gulf. 
Although Bushire be the principal Persian sea-port, yet there is none of 
that bustle and movement which indicates the activity of commerce. 
Instead of crowds of vessels at anchor, receiving and discharging mer¬ 
chandise, with hundreds of boats passing to and fro between them and 
the shore, the masts of a solitary vessel may be here and there per¬ 
ceived, and perhaps a single boat creeping along with a flapping sail. 
The whole of its trade is closely connected with that of Bussora, as 
almost every ship which navigates the Gulf touches at both places, 
either to receive or discharge merchandise; but it does not employ 
annually more than eight ships under English colours, and about six 
under Muscat, making on an average about 4500 tons of shipping. 
The Persians have no navy, either for war or commerce. The only 
man-of-war ever constructed in Persia was built by Nadir Shah, with 
the timber of Mazanderan; and the despotism exercised in bringing 
the materials, by main force, on the backs of men, over a country in 
* See my first Journal, p. 57- 
