Report No.67 of 1863 detailing the tribes, trades and resources of the Gulf Littoral [‎1v] (2/58)

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5tli. Territories lield by those independent Maritime Arab Chiefs, for-
. merly the pirates of the Gulf; now partially
Ramse, ^as-ul-khyma. Shargah and Fasht. commercial; and bound by the terms of
Jazirath -ul-Hamra. Khan. a permanent iruce to keep the peace at
Amulgavine. Debaye and Aboo- g ea : the English Resident in the Gulf,
Ejmaun. tbabee. being mediator and quasi guarantee for
the observation of this Truce, by all the subscribing Chiefs; more especially during
the season of diving, on the Pearl Banks.
6th. Territories recognising the Suzereignty of the Turkish Govern
ment ; but practically independent under
Kateef or Nejd Territory, Koweit or Grane. t j ie j r own Chiefs.
7th. Territory di
rectly under the
Pashas of the Tur-
Busreh Zobeir.
Paon with intermediate small Ports along right bank of the Bnsreh Eiver.
kish Government.
7. The largest territory falling under the first class, is that of the Chaab
Arabs. It may be generally described as a vast.
The Chaab Arabs. well-watered, and fertile plain, contained between
the lines of the river Karoon to the north, and the Hindeean river to the south;
and sloping imperceptibly from the lower spurs of the Khogiloo mountains, and
that upper portion of Khuzistan, which lies along the Ram-Hormuz* and Shuster
route. South-westward to the Huffar Cutting, and the Bamsheer river: to the
Westward of which channels, the Chaab Territory further extends (under a sepa
rate branch Tribe, at Mahomera) to the left bank of the Shat-ool-Arab.
8. The Chaab plain* is intersected in its entire length from the Eastward
(northerly) to the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , by one fine stream, which, receiving
affluents from the mountains, at various points lying between Ram-Hormuz and
Behbehan, flows through the Chaab Territory under the name of Jerahee; throw
ing off numerous natural, improved, or wholly artificial water channels; more especi
ally from its right or northern Bank. The Jerahee is navigable for boats of 4 or 5
Tons, throughout its length; until within some 12 miles of Ram-Hormuz. When it
reaches nearly the latitude of Dorack (or Fellahiah), the chief town of this
Territory, it supplies a broad canal, which, after flowing about 6 miles, passes
through Dorack, throwing off several agricultural water courses, from both sides;
or wasting itself in floods, until it is reduced to a small canoe channel, which opens
on the Huffar or lower Karoon, and so communicates with Mahomera, and the
main River.—Two ancient canals coming from the Karoon, cross the Dorack canal
at right angles, and flow south towards the sea. They are named respectively,
Mourad, and Sooleymanya.
9. After passing the point (called Kazenah or the sluices) whence the Dorack
water is supplied; the Jerahee curves south, passing Zoobeea within one fursac
of Dorack, there throws off several more broad offshoots; and then flows onward
to the sea having its Port at Boozeah. Zoobeea is the point to which small sea
going craft come up for the supply of Dorack; and goods are carried to and fro
Zoobeea and Dorack, by land.
10. Tracking from the Huffar up the canoe channel towards Dorack, you
can easily see the sails of boats passing up the Karoon. But on reaching Dorack,
the Karoon is distant some nine fursacs. The Jerahee, at the sluices, and for the
few miles I passed further up it, has a midchannel of 8 feet in depth; gently
curving, and well defined banks, irregularly fringed with date trees; and showing
on either hand, a well farmed breadth of land, with cattle and horses; the lower
lands on the right bank over towards the Karoon line, are in rice.
11. Bunder Mashoor is a seaport of the Chaabs, and distant from Dorack
from 30 to 40 miles in an E. S. E. direction. And an irregularly curved line,
passing a little within Mashoor, through a point a little lower down the canoe
canal than Dorack, and so rounding to the left bank of the Karoon, would, during
the winter or inundatory season, trace the blending of the grassy plain with swamp
or flooded land. Indeed, as you pass up the Dorack canoe channel, your horizon
* Called in cotn-
mon parlance Hor-
muz.
* A sketch of
the Chaab plain,
and of the coast
line in general
round the head of
the Gulf, has now
been very care
fully prepared by
Dr. Colvill, from
our recent marches
round that line. I
suggest a reference
to that sketch,
which accompanies
my report, No. 65
of this day, sent by
this opportunity.