'Diary of a Tour in the Persian Gulf and in Turkish Arabia December 1906, by Lieutenant-Colonel Malleson Assistant Quarter Master General, Intelligence Branch, Division of the Chief of the Staff.' [‎10v] (20/46)

14
Turks and the unruly independence of
the Arab Sheikhs, some of whom claim to
command 30,000 followers.
I append some notes on Basra by Captain
Hay
“ There are two lines of steamers run
ning from Basra to Bagdad, one owned by
the Hamidieh Company, the other by the
Euphrates and Tigris S. N. Company. For
details see later. The return fare by the
latter line is 22 Mejides (55 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ); there
is a charge of 5 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. per diem for
messing in addition.
Ships anchor in the stream nearer to the
right bank than the left. There is not room
for two abreast. There is room for any
number up and down the river. There are
no fixed moorings. There is deep water 150
yards from the right bank. The banks are
low, there is no sand but deep mud.
The tide is felt as far up as Kurna, 48 miles
above Basra. The rise and fall is from 8 to
12 feet, but is dependent on the strength of
the wind and the amount of water in the
river. The difference between spring and
neap-tides is about 3 feet.
The B. I. S. N. Company has three re
gular pilots, Arabs, who know the river
well. They were formerly Nakhudas of
buggalows. The Euphrates and Tigris S. N.
Company have also two pilots. The quar
ter-masters of the river steamers would
also be able to pilot steamers up the river.
There are many Arabs who are constantly
going up and down the river in buggalows
and would prove useful in bringing
steamers up the Shatt-el-Arab.
There is no regular harbour master, but
the general control of shipping is under the
Marine Department. There is a Turkish
Commodore at Basra.
There are no tugs. There are four
steam lighters employed in taking cargo
to ships across the bar at Fao. Ocean
going steamers take half cargoes at Basra,
cross the bar and fill up from these lighters
outside. These four lighters belong to :
Bucknall S. N. Company;
Strick S. N. Company;
West Harttepool S. N. Company;
Bombay-Persian S. N. Company;
another has been ordered by a Parsee firm.
Grey, Mackenzie & Co. have one launch,
and Strick & Co. have another. Three or
four^ others were seen, but were apparently
not in use. J
There is a dredger lying on the mud on
the leit bank opposite the Consulate, but
apparently it has never been used.
Notes on Basra.
Anchorage.
Banks.
Tide.
Polits.
Harbour authorities.
Local steamers and launches.
Dredger.