'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III. PART I: A to K' [‎198v] (401/1278)

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either distil the local water or obtain water from ships. Wells are very
numerous all over the Peninsula, but the following are among the most im
portant.
1 The wells called “Bahmani” just outside the Malik’s house at Rlshahr;
these run almost dry in the hot weather. These are one of the chief sources
of .drinking water for men.
2. The Andar Bandar (“ Oonder Boonder ”) wells (under the telegraph
line and about 2| miles east of Malik’s, house). These are said to be inex
haustible, and are used freely by the inhabitants, who carry away water
on donkeys. There are 6 wells, and the water is about 15 feet below the
surface, and is very deep.
3 . Wells at “ Tangak ” the property of Katkhudd Zahir ’Ali, near the
Mashileh, about If miles east of Sabzabad Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , and If miles south
east of “Oonder Boonder. ” These wells are also said to be inexhaustible
and not so brackish as the others.
4. Shallow wells near the beach at Bandar Halileh, which are fairly
sweet, and always contain water.
There appears to be no shortage of water for animals. The horses and
mules of the 39th Central India Horse at the Malik’s house in 1911-13 were
watered, from a well just outside the south wall of the Malik’s house, which
contains 20 feet of water, and apparently never diminishes.
While the British Indian detachment of about 300 men was at Bushire
(1911-13) arrangements were made by the provision of forty-one 400-gallon
tanks to provide for a possible failure of the local supply of water. It was
intended that water should be sent up from Karachi by British India steamers
transferred in Bushire harbour to 400-gallon tanks on lighters, which would
be taken to Rishahr, where the water would be pumped into other tanks
on shore, and conveyed thence by donkeys daily to tanks in the Malik’s
house. There was, however, no necessity found for putting this arrange
ment into operation, as the troops, including British Officers, drank the
water from the Malik’s house wells, and from the Andar Bandar wells.
Agriculture.—k large proportion of the peninsula consists of arable land,
which in part is cultivated by means of wells and in part by rainfall. The
ordinary crops are wheat and barley, sown about December and reaped
after 4 months (April-May). In places there are date groves, but not of
thriving appearance. There are quantities of grapes and many other fruits
grown. Vegetables of all sorts are grown except potatoes.
^ The amount of arable land under cultivation on the peninsula is about
200 gan, each ga7i producing 5 to 60 cwt, say 60 tons, altogether, in the
proportion of about 5 to 2 wheat and barley.
Much wheat and barley comes to Bushire from the surrounding district
for export, and it is estimated that amounts varying from 150 maunds to
500 maunds of wheat, and from 100 to 350 maunds of barley, depending on
the time of year, would be purchasable at any particular moment. If the
crops are good, there would tie between 800 and 1,000 tons of corn available.
In 1910-11 the export of grain through Bushire was 2,571 tons ; but in
1911-12 as much as 14,738 tons was exported, over § of which went to
the United Kingdom and \ to Germany.