File 50/1914 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Lights and Buoys; Expenditure' [‎41r] (85/423)

in the Gulf would serve the purpose in the weather prevailing. Later, the
L. I. M. S. “ Miner ” was sent to replace the tender “ Eiephanta ) ,, but for 2|
months no work could be done as the dhows, without a tender, could not main
tain the supply of sand, other building materials and food for the work-people.
All this time the establishment had to be maintained although no work could
be done.
( 6 ) Mr, Homer had informed the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. that, before work
could be started it would be necessary to construct huts for the
workmen, collect supplies of food and store fresh water. He had
wired to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. not to send any workmen till all
these details were ready, but, to his surprise, the workmen
arrived on the 22nd of March before any preparations to receive
them had been made and when the supply of drinking water was
very low. Many attempts were made to find a supply of water
on the island but w ithout success. Shelter had to be provided
at once for the coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. and as they were incapable of doing this
themselves, Karachi workmen had to be brought from Tamh.
These men knew that the conditions on Quoin were much worse
than on Tamb and refused to go to the former unless their pay
was raised. As the work had to be done and done at once, there
was no alternative but to raise their pay.
(c) As soon as the conditions on Quoin become known, workmen would
not go there except on special terms and finally all the men
had to be supplied with free fuel and lighting and the freight on
their rations had to be remitted.
(d) The limekilns first constructed proved failures as there was no earth
with which to construct the walls and also owing to the high
winds which usually prevail on the island.
(e) There was no sand to be had on the island, and all of it had to be
imported from Tamb in dhows which added greatly to the cost of
all masonry and concrete work.
(f) The work of removing the overhanging rocks and dressing the cliff
face on the north east side of the island above the landing place
proved more difficult and dangerous than anticipated. Special
precautions had to be taken which added to the cost of the work
but, i n spite of these, three workmen were killed and gratuities
had to be granted to their widows.
(g) A dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. was wrecked and Rs. 3,600 had to be given to the owmer as
compensation. No provision had been made in the estimate for
contingencies of this nature.
7 . I am to add that all the figures in this letter refer only to the outlay
incurred on the foundations and erection of the lighthouses and the construc
tion of subsidiary buildings, the plans and estimates for which were prepared
by Mr. Homer. They do not include the cost of the superstructures, as the
plans and estimates for these were prepared in England. These plans and
estimates were not forwarded to the Executive Engineer, Karachi Buildings
District, nor was the outlay incurred on the superstructures communicated to
him for incorporation in the account of the works kept in his office.
8 . I am to request that the Secretary of State may now be moved to accord
his approval to the excesses in question and that the estimates for the light
houses at Tamb and Quoin Islands forwarded with this Government letter No.
C.W.-12169, dated 4th November 1914, may be sanctioned by the Government
of India.