'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎64] (229/524)

G4
REMARKS ON THE TRIBES, &c.
English free port, under a clear, written, permanent, unquestionable
title to he obtained from our ancient Ally of Muscat: concentrating there
our Coal and Telegraph main stations for the Gulf, together with our
Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. . Politically and stiategically considered, this point
might be rendered the key of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Asa Coal Depot it
affords calm and good anchorage, and would save colliers the risk, time,
and cost of working up and down the Gulf. As a Telegraph station iti s
on the Elphinstone Creek, whose head touches the neck of the promon
tory at its narrowest part : and after a land passage of some 400 yards,
meets the head of a deep water inlet opening on the Eastern side of the
cape. A trading steamer taking in coal at Khussub, could run to Bnsreh
or Koweit and back without filling up. The entrance of the Gulf is
the natural terminus for your square-rigged vessels, and trade should
he delivered round the Gulf and up the Busreh river or Koweit creeks
in suitable native Gulf craft or steamers. A large bngla can run
cheaper than a square-rig, ton for ton, under particular circumstances.
For instance between Bombay and East Africa they run down with the
North-east and return with the first breezes of the South-west mon
soons. But the argument fails to apply when the length of voyage
and the variability of winds, and the intervening of heavy weather,
impede, endanger, or stop pattimar sailing.
103. The case of Ormuz is a precedent for a like station. The
interferences, incertitude, and want of accurate knowledge of the
market all round the Gulf, point to the alleviation of these evils,
by the creation of a general entrepot at a convenient point, where
all vessels passing near the Gulf outside would, if they pleased to call,
find cargo ready ; whereto all boats finding a favourable chance for
exports from their several jurisdictions could run a cargo in a few
days ; and whereto all trade might converge, as circumstances admitted,
from ports subjected to sudden but not permanent arbitrary inter
ference.
104. My respectful suggestion to Government is, that the forma
tion of a port so concentrating all our interests, would do more to
create and to develop the trade of the Gulf and Busreh line, and
JL
would do more to keep the Government accurately informed as to
their relations, and the condition of commerce in the Gulf, ail( ^
would further do more to keep the Maritime Arabs quiet, and to
afford an issue for whatever capabilities of trade may be possessed