'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III. PART II: L to Z' [‎31r] (66/988)

LIN—LIN 650
4 square miles and on it are situated the large water brikehs from which
the drinking water is obtained. The ground consists for the most part of
hard sand, but in wet weather it would become somewhat of a quagmire.
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 chiefly
of immigrants from Trucial •’Oman, but Bahrain has contributed a quota
of Al 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 is Sunnis or Vahhabis : less
than £ are Shiahs The following table will give an idea of the compos
ition of the town
souls.
Arabs . . 5,000
Persians .......... 5,000
Africans . . . . . . . . . . 1,500
Khwajas ........... 24
Hindus .......... 16
Europeans ......... 3
Though the town is large its defensive strength is small. It has a very
irregular outline though on the north-north-west and north-east there are
some straight faces and walls useful for defence. The small round mud
forts are mostly well placed, but much of the immediate front is broken up
by nullahs deep enough to conceal attackers. Two broad, sandy nullahs
mark the eastern and western limits of the the town proper. The outskirts
of the town to the east are screened by palm-trees.
There is an extremely good line of observation and resistance from about
two miles north-west of the town to one mile north-east. Only about one
per cent of the fighting men is 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.
Trade. —Lingeh was until recently a trade emporium serving a large
and important 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 Batinoh 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 communication with India and the absence