Political Correspondence - Muscat and Oman Affairs [‎162r] (323/370)

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America. I should say, however, that two vessels of 500 tons each would carry ofl
the whole of the wool of the season. A vessel belonging to this nation was expected
to arrive daily when we left.
Custom Duties .— Ihe custom duties of the Port of Gwadurare yearly farmed
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out by the Imaum of Muscat, and have been taken this year by a Kurrachee Bun-
niah, who has paid Rs. 6 , 000 .
Trade by boats is carried on with Muscat throughout the year, but is closed
to the eastward after the first week in May.
Climate. The climate of Gwadur appears salubrious,—the month of May being
considered the hottest during the year. From personal observation I ascertained that
the thermometer in in}' cabin on board the “ Hugh Lindsay” at 8 a. m. stood at 84°
Fahrenheit, and at 2 p. m. at 90°. When on shore, and exposed to the sun during
the greatest heat of the day, I experienced no inconvenience, and, from lonii'
experience of the climate of Sind, should say that there was little difference
between that of Kurrachee and Gwadur.
Road to Kurrachee .—During my stay I made every inquiry regarding the
coast-route to Kurrachee, and ascertained, from those who were constantly in the
habit of travelling it, that it presented no difficulties ; and that when the sea-
route was closed, it was daily traversed by traders and others; and that with the
exception of a scarcity of water at one or two of the halting-places, no difficulties of
any sort presented themselves; that all along the coast the people were inoffensive,
and that the road was entirely free from freebooters of any sort.
Hills near Gwadur .—On ascending the range of hills, at the foot of which the
village is situated, I found on the summit a curious natural reservoir for water, of
Luge extent, with a most scientifically constructed stone bund, for the purpose of
preventing the water from escaping down the eastern side of the hills. Feeling
convinced that it could not have been constructed by the present inhabitants, 1 made
inquiiies, and was informed that it had been built m former days by Femmees, bv
which I am led to suppose that the Portuguese were intended, and that in all pro
bability when they possessed Ormus and other Ports in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Gwadur
was not neglected by them, either as a trading port, or as a harbour of refuge dur
ing bad weather. It also appears that in former times the Belooch tribes from the
interior were in the habit of making raids into Gwadur with the view of plunder,
and that on these occasions the inhabitants sought shelter in the hills, which, from the
difficulty of access, a single path rendered a few resolute men capable of defending
themselves against large bodies,-—and this alone appears one of the principal reasons
for preserving the water. Several old tombs were also shown me as havin«- been
built by the same people who constructed the bund. There were, however, no
inscriptions on them.
Having now seen and ascertained all that I possibly could regarding Gwadur
and its neighbourhood, we weighed anchor on the evening of the 29th and shaped
our course for Ormara. I much wished to visit Pissmiee and Kulmut, ports Ivino-
between Gwadur and Ormara, but the very heavy surf, lateness of the season, and