'PERSIAN GULF AND GULF OF OMAN. RESOURCES AND COAST DEFENCES.' [‎31] (37/114)

UMKASR, ETC.—SHATT-AL-ARAB.
31
It was rumoured in the summer of 1902 that the Turks
intended to occupy Sabiya and Arafajiya, a village about 5 miles
N.W. of it.
The S. entrance of the Khor Sabiya (about 6 miles S. of
Sabiya) is very shallow.
Has Sabiya, on the VV. side of the entrance, is one of the
points mentioned in the rumoured Turkish Defence Scheme for
Koweit and vicinity (see Appendix, p. 82).
Note on the Suitahility of Umkasr as a Railway Terminus.—-
It was originally proposed to place the terminus of the projected
railway through Asia Minor to Baghdad and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
{see Appendix, p. 75) on the shores of Koweit Harbour. The
acquisition of a site there presenting difficulties, Umkasr has
been proposed as an alternative terminus.
The examination of the waterways in the vicinity of Umkasr
made by the " Sphinx " in February 1902 showed that there are
two possible sites :—
(1) on the W. shore of Khor Umkasr close to point marked
" good landing " on Chart 3,293 ;
(2) on the W. shore of the natural harbour off the S.W. end
of Warba Island.
The natural advantages of (2) were considered to make it far
superior to Koweit as a site for a railway terminus, and it is
more accessible than (1). The selection of either (1) or (2) as
a terminus would necessitate an accurate survey of the Khor
Abdalla and the laying down of buoys in that inlet.
SHATT-AL (EL or TJL) -ARAB.
{See Admiralty Charts 1,235 and 2,837 b.)
This large river Hows into the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. at its N.W.
extreme. From the mouth to a point about 2 miles above
Mohammerah it forms the Turco-Persian boundary.*
The river forms the approach to Fao (cable station), Basra
(or Bussorah), Baghdad, and the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
in Turkish territory; also to Mohammerah (Hafar Channel),
the Karun liiver, Ahwaz (or Bunder Nasri), &c. in Persian
territory.
distance of Fao,
The approximate
Shatt-al-Arab, from —
Bahrein Harbour -
Bassidu
Bombay
Bushire
Khor Abdalla (head of}
Khor ash-Shem
Kishm Town
Kowcit
near the mouth of the Passage
distances
- is 247 miles.
- „ 448
- „ 1,577
- „ 134
- „ 53
- „ 494
- „ 493
- „ 85
0 The boundary leaves the river at this point and runs for some distance
Approximately N.