'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME IV.' [‎63r] (130/652)

kept going quickly, 20 fathoms being only 2 to 3 miles off ; in the day
time the eye should be a sufficient guide, as the coast is bold. In rounding
Chahbar Point a vessel should not come under | mile, as there is a spit
about 3 cables in length, outside which are rocky overfalls oh the pitch,
nor should it come with the tomb bearing east by south. At the above
distance the water will shoal to 5 fathoms, hard bottom on the tail of
the spit, and then deepen to 7 fathoms, mud, when the vessel should haul
in for the anchorage.
Tides. —It is high water, at full and change, about 9 hours 30 minutes ;
springs rise 9 feet. The stream is not perceptible.
Population. —In 1906 there were 33 Khojahs and 22 Baniahs’ shops,
and about 300 Baluchi families residing in the place : to this must be
added a sprinkling of negroes and others, making the total up to about
2,300 persons ; living in some 400 houses grouped round the ruined fort.
They possessed 12 buggalows and 7 batels in 1906. The language spoken
is a Makran dialect of Baluchi, but Hindustani is generally understood.
Persian is rarely heard and is unintelligible to the majority of the
people.
Supplies procurable. —Mutton, fowls, fish, eggs, wheat, barley, rice, ghi
and dates. At times grain is scarce, and there is no grass or forage ; but
if timely notice be given, these can be procured in small quantities from
the interior. Firewood is scarce.
Water-supply. —Plentiful and good from deep wells. It is pumped up
into a reservoir, and laid on by pipes from one well to the telegraph
quarters.
Climate. —Fairly healthy, and comparatively cool for the greater part of
the year ; no very trying heat as at Gwadar, Jashk, and Bandar Abbas.
Feverish in September and October.
Customs. —Under the Belgian Customs officials. There is a brisk com
mercial stir here during the cold season, goods being carried far into the
interior to Geh, Bint, Fanuch, Qasrqand, Bampur, hehri j, etc.
Imports. —Calico, cotton and woollen goods, silks, rice, flour, matches,
tea, sugar, oil, spices, indigo, lead, iron, tobacco, beads, etc. The price
of donkeys from Masqat varies from 20 to 50 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
Exports. —Cotton, wool, goats’ hair, dates, ghi, barley, skins, mats,
salt fish, isinglass, and sharks’ fins.
The value of the exports amounts to about Rs. 1,50,000 annually, and
that of the imports to about Rs. 1,00,000. Since the murder of Mr.
Graves in 1897 a small detachment of Indian troops has been stationed
here. Present strength (1906) 1 native officer and 50 men. (Jennings,
1885] Brazier-Creagh, 1893 ] Yate, 1902 ] Grey, 1906.)
CHAH BEG—
A well in Persian Baluchistan, about 53 miles from Bampflr, on the
Bijnabad road. Trees plentiful.—( Brazier-Creagh, 1894.)
CHAH CHAMBILl.— Lat. 27° 35'; Long. 58° 4'.
Three wells about lO^ miles to the north of Kahn-i-’Ali in Marz.
There is good water about 18 feet below the surface. There are 4 huts,
60 camels. A level sandy plain, with camel-grazing.—(GthSow, 1908.)