'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1865 to December 1867. (Edited by the Honorary Secretary.) Volume XVIII.' [‎94] (230/268)

94 REPORT ON PLACES BETWEEN ADEN AND SUEZ
than at present, and at that time, the large back ground, which now
shows a number of dry places, and the further end of the hay, is qu i te
overflowed, so that Arabian boats can run up there.”
for examination of coast line, soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. , &c., I would refer to
Mouslev’s Chart of the Red Sea, in four sheets ; No. 2 Sheet, Latitude
«/
23° to 25°, published in 1836.
Cosseir. This place was reached at 8 a.m. on the 19th instant.
We landed immediately and were taken by the Governor of the place,
au old Officer of the Egyptian Navy, to his house, which forms also the
Custom house; a large quadrangular building with upper story and
open court-yard in the centre, where goods were deposited. It is
curious that at Bunder Abbas at the entrance of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
opposite the famous Island of Ormus, is a precisely similar building;
this would help to prove communication between the two ports,
extending in all probability back to their first foundation. After tlie
decline and abandonment of Berenice, the trade by sea from the great
emporium on the Persian Coast would he continued to Cosseir alone,
and is carried on to the present day, but to a very trifling extent now.
The town of Cosseir is situated immediately on the sea shore ;
landing is easily effected by means of a very fair wooden pier 80 yards
long. It has all the appearance of having been once a well-to-do and
flourishing place. The houses are all built of stone, sandstone, or chalk
from the neighbouring hills, and the streets, which are kept scrupu
lously clean, are regular and at short intervals, running at right angles
to each other. The bazaar showed a considerable number of shops, but
they were nearly all closed and the few that were occupied showed very
small store. The Governor informed me that since the railroad was
made from Cairo to Suez, and steamers ran regularly from that port to
Jedda, Suakin, &c., trade had almost entirely left Cosseir. We visited
the residence of the Telegraph, Officials, a double-roofed, narrow
wooden building on a hillock north of the town. It was closed and
apparently well looked after. Below was the Telegraph Office, a small
stone building. The Government Coal Dep6t was immediately behind,
a large covered-in godown, the roof supported by stone pillars- There
was no coal whatever, only a hundred or so old gunny bags- I inquired
but could obtain no information as to how, or by whom the coal former y
deposited here had been expended. The oldest official in the place was