Report No. 73 of 1864 by Lewis Pelly on his journey from Bandar Abbas to Cape Jask reconnoitering the route of the proposed telegraph line [‎2v] (4/20)

subordinate to Bunder Abbass, and is at present ruled by the son of the Governor
of that port. It may be roughly described as a triangle, having for its shortest
side a line drawn four or five fursacks inland from the Mi now Creek to a point to
the North and Westward of the Fort of Minow, and having for its other two sides
lines drawn respectively along the coast and along the base of the Beshankard hills
intersecting at Ziarat. This area, so far South as the Joo-Mohalla river, contains
successive belts of date grove interspersed with corn fields and waste patches. And
as you approach the river line, considerable gardens bearing Orange, Mango, Citron,
Plantain, and other fruit trees. To the Southward of that line the district becomes
less cultivated until you reach Kohistak,* where the road touches the sea shore, and
is skirted on the left by extensive date groves. Kohistak itself is an average vil
lage with some slight fort works on the crest of a scarped rock, whence, however, a
commanding viewf would be obtainable in all directions for Telegraph purposes.
From Kohistak to the Southern point of the Minow district at Ziarat the road lies
along the sea shore. The plain is broken up or changes into sand hills, until at
Ziarat these come close down to the sea side.
12. The source of the Minow district's fertility is the river bearing its name.
This river enters the district from a North-easterly "direction down a ravine imme-
t/
diately below the Fort of Minow, which crests the last spur of a steep and earthy
range of hills. At its lowest season the river at this point may be fifty or sixty feet
wide by a foot or so deep. Immediately on entering the plain, much of the water
is diverted for the purpose of cultivation, and as the bed winds round a small and
low promontory on which the town of Minow is situate close to the fort, it widens
to a mile or so in breadth, and the water is lost in sand. It re-appears, however,
some two or so fursacks down, and reaches the sea near the Creek of Minow, distant
about four fursacks from the Minow Fort.
13. The Minow river bears this name for a distance of some four fursacks into
the hill country to a place named Gazoo. At Gazoo, called also Dorood Gah (or the
point where two rivers meet), the main stream is joined by a tributary called
•/
Geghem, coming from Rood bar in an Easterly direction. The mainstream itself
here changes its name to Roodoon, after the name of the district through which it
passes. The Roodoon in turn is increased along its course by many small
* Kohistak, like other villages along this shore line, is mainly dependent on its fish and dates. The
fishing boat here in use, as likewise on the Omman coast, is made of date leaf stalks. A hole of the size
of the craft to be built is dug in the sand. The stalks of the date are clipped thin at either extremity, and
are then bound together in curved form by cord, the extremity so bound forming stem and stern. The
keel is rounded, and the water flows freely in and out between the date stalks. About a foot and a half
above the keel, a date stalk platform or deck is rigged, upon which the fisherman sits, flinging his fish down
a small hatchway into the water in the hold. The mast is sometimes formed of two slight sticks spring
ing from either side of the craft at a point where bent and strongest date stalks are carved to form ribs
strengthening the sides of the boat.
f A similar eminence overlooks the Joo-Mohalla river close to the road.