'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎100] (209/258)

100
LIEUTENANT CHARLES G. CONSTABLE’S MEMOIR
sound. And half the Gulf was what is called a “ running survey,”* corrected
by observations for latitude and longitude at every opportunity, and is therefore
of about the same value as the “route surveys” on land, where much is left
to the eye and to the judgment of the observer in estimating distances.
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I would not be thought to disparage or overlook the merit of others. On the
contrary I cannot but admire the skill and perseverance shewn by Maughan,
Guy, Brucks, Rogers and others, of the Indian Navy, employed on this survey
between the years 1821 and 1828. The charts of the Gulf were constructed
with great taste and ability by Lieut. Houghton, I. N., who was a most accom
plished draftsman. I am able to appreciate the efforts of men engaged in
such a duty at a time when the facilities for its accomplishment were infinitely
smaller than they are at the present moment.
A very short time before the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. was being surveyed, its waters
were infested by a piratical population, who in large numbers, hardened by
constant success, and fearless from continued immunity from punishment,
rendered the navigation of this sea unsafe for commercial purposes. It was our
task to put them down, and it has been done effectually ; but the execution
of the task engendered feelings of hostility in the minds of the people inhabit
ing a large extent of the coast which was to be surveyed, and the difficulties
of the survey were consequently increased. To have acquired anything
like an intimate knowledge of the coast at that time was difficult and
dangerous. The principal object of the survey was, to lay open the haunts of
the pirates, and to ascertain how far our cruisers might pursue them without
running on sunken rocks and shoals. It was probably considered that, owing
to the jealous and hostile character of the natives, a superficial survey, as it
was all that could well be obtained, so it might answer the main ends for
which it was instituted.
There was another obstacle to making an accurate survey, and one of
nearly universal application, which was the prejudice of the inhabitants
agidnst Christians at any time, but particularly when seen measuring the
ground and setting up instruments. This awakened in their minds suspicions
that there was an ulterior design, against them or their possessions, veiled
under the guise of a scientific experiment.
The case is altered now to what it was in the time of the survey. An act
of piracy is very rare in the Gulf. We are at peace with the whole popula
tion of the Persian and Arabian coasts, and our name is respected through
* O & survey hastily made in a ship whilst sailing along a coast* A gentleman passing
through the country oil the top of a stage coach, and surveying it as he went, would form nearly
a parallel case.
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