'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎308v] (621/982)

606
LIN—LIN
Gharieh and one of the western quarters of the town is called Lihgieh. On6
of the chief features of the place is a number of birJcehs, or domed cisterns,
which are scattered through the environs; these are circular reservoirs,
20 or 30 feet deep, for the storage of *the water which in rainy weather
comes down from the desert behind.
There is a small dock, suitable for native craft, but it can only be entered
at high tide. The dock c n berth some half dozen dhows. The anchorage
is in 5 fathoms of water with good holding ground at f mile off-shore; it is
exposed to southerly and south-easterly winds which sometimes make
communication with the shore impossible, the waves lashing full on the
piers and the spray driving inland over the town. At a short distance
to the west of the anchorage there is a small pearl-bank 200 yards off
shore, in 12 to 20 feet of water.
The population at present amounts to 12,000 souls and is of a highly
composite character. The basis is Arab and is supposed to consist chi'fly
of immigrants from. Trucial ’Oman, but Bahrain has contributed a quota
of A1 Bu Samait, ’Utub and Dawasir, and there are also immigrants from
Kangan. The remainder are mostly Persians from the neighbourhoods
of Bastak and Lar. The medley is completed by a considerable Negro
admixture. The majority of the inhabitants are Sunnis or Vahhabls :
less than J are ShTahs. The following table will give an idea of the com
position of the town :—
Arabs 4 . .. .. .. .. •• 5,000souls.
Persians
Africans
Khwajas
Hindus
Europeans
5,000
1,500
24
16
3
Though"the town is large, its defensive strength is small. Only about
one per cent, of the fighting men are credited with the possession of arms,
and most of these, it is to be feared, are in undesirable hands. As a rule
arms are not produced except on the incitement of Mullas, and then not
without the existence of personal interests to be served or the issue of
injunctions by the Governor.
Lingeh was until recently a trade-emporium serving a large and impor
tant area. As a general centre for the
collection and export of pearls it rivalled
even Bahrain. As a point for the distribution of foreign goods, not only the
adjacent districts of Persia but also the ports of Trucial’Oman and Qatr,
and even, to some extent, those of the Batinah coast of ’Oman and of Bahrain
were numbered among its clients. But the rigorous regime of the reformed
Persian Customs has set a term., at least for the present, to its prosperity;
and the towns of Trucial ’Oman, formerly among its leading constituents,
are now turning to Dibai, which the establishment of direct steam-com
munication with India and the absence of official harassments have at
length enabled to compete with Lingeh upon favourable terms.
It is estimated that goods imported direct at Dibai can be sold
there 10 per cent, cheaper than similar goods imported through Lingeh.
To save themselves from utter ruin most of the leading merchants of
Lingeh have established agencies in Trucial ’Oman, by means of which
they hope to retain a part of their former business.