'MILITARY REPORT ON PERSIA. VOL. IV, PART II.' [‎37r] (78/212)

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| inside. The outer walls of the harbours eoula be used as a wharf.
| Depth of water here at high tide is about 9 feet. The western
most of these two harbours would be the best to use for the
reason that the shore is better, and from the landing placearoad
leads straight out through the town to the camping grounds
outside, and is of sufficient width to allow mule earts to pass
without trouble. From the eastern harbour the streets through
the bazaar to the outside of the town are extremely narrotv
and tortuous and are practically impassable to wheeled traffic.
Landing appliances. Ao steam engines, winches, trollies,
carts, hawsers, cables, etc., are available.
Wharf amd lightermen.—In the cool season about 200 coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. ,
who are mostly Mina bis, are employed, but in the hot season
labour is very scarce as the majority go off to Minab.
Convoy grounds—A large open space, j mile from the store
godowns is suitable, with large birkehs (tanks) from which, in
normal years, ample water is available; there is no grazing
in the vicinity. After good rain camels bring, in grass from
places 3 to 9 miles distant.
Excellent camping grounds exist outside and to the north
of the town, where the ground is flat and of stony sand which
however in many places becomes rather a quagmire in wet
weather. Two spots are particularly suitable for a camp on
account of the proximity to a number of birkehs. The first
starts l mile north-east of the wireless station and stretches
1,100 yards to the north and 2-3 mile to the east. Within £
mile of this point are some 20 birkehs. A wide road leads
straight from the landing place opposite the Fort, half a mile
distant. The second camping ground is | mile due west of the
western extremity of the town and 2—300 yards east of the
Quarantine station. The level ground commences withm 3C0
yards of the shore and is some 800 yards square. Within | mile
there are 12 birkehs. This camping ground would be the most
suitable for use if troops were landed in the westernmost of the
two boat harbours described above. •
Sanitation .—There is no scavenger class and no sanitation
whatever. Mosquito curtains are a necessity at all seasons.
The climate is reputed the best of any port in the Gulf.
The summers are slightly hotter than Biisbire, but the winters
are milder. Rain usually falls from November to February
and averages about inches annually.