'PERSIAN GULF AND GULF OF OMAN. RESOURCES AND COAST DEFENCES.' [‎54] (60/114)

54 PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .—RESOURCES AND DEFENCES.
Food. —Catlle, vegetables, &c., can be obtained.
Communica- There is no information as to existing communications. For
tions. proposed telegraphic communication, see under Henjam Island,
note, p. 56.
Defences. There is an old Portuguese fort* close to the shore at the S.
end of the town. It is very conspicuous from seaward. There
is no information as to its present condition, but presumably it
is useless against modern guns. As far as is known there are
no other defences.
It should be noted that the land W. and S. of the town rises
gradually from the sea, becoming precipitous and broken to the
W. and N.W. The highest part is a tableland, 560 feet high,
3 miles W. of the town.
It is believed that there are no native forces available for
defence purposes.
Note. —After the British expedition of 1819 several hundred
British and Indian troops were stationed in the vicinity of
Kishm Town in 1820, for the purpose of overawing the Jowasmi
pirates. The troops suffered heavy losses from climate, and
were transferred first to Salak Point (close to Henjam Island)
and then to Bassidu.
The roadstead between Kishm and Bunder Abbas, at the
entrance of Clarence Strait, was the rendezvous for the British
fleet and transports at the commencement of the Persian war of
1856-57.
In 1902 the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies, expressed a
high opinion of the strategic importance of this roadstead.
According to a Press report in 1902 Russian emissaries tried
to induce the Sheikh of Kishm to act as agent for vessels of the
liussian Volunteer Fleet, with what result it was not known.
HENJAM ISLAND.
{See Admiralty Charts 2,837a (with inset A small map or other image enclosed within the margin of a larger map, map sheet, or larger image; or papers placed inside a book or archival volume. ) and 753.)
Henjam Island lies off the S. coast of Kishm Island, and is
separated from it by a strait about 1 mile broad, known as
Henjam Sound.
The island is about 5 miles long (N.N.E. and S.S.W.) by 21
miles broad, and is very hilly.
It is chiefly valuable for its salt mines ; 5,000 to 7,000 tons of
salt being exported yearly to Calcutta.
There are about 450 males on the island.
6 At the siege of this fort, with its Portuguese garrison, by the British
in alliance with Shah Abbas,, the famous explorer Baffin was killed.