'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎109] (218/258)

ON THE IIVDROGUAPHY OF L'llE PERSIAN GUFF.
109
Towkhul, or Sowhyg. Lieutenant J. M. Guy, I. N., surveyed this part in 1821,
and I knew by the chart ihat the water there was from 50 to 70 fathoms deep,
and I confess that I doubted my informants, but these poor creatures had
given such clear transit marks, that our boat found the patch the first time she
tried for it. A strong current running out of the Gulf carried her off into
deep water. We picked her up and worked to the westward. Next day
dropped her to windward of the patch, when, guided by the Arabs’ marks, she
again came on it, and anchored in 9 feet.*
From Aboothubbee up to Ras el Khyma soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. have not been taken off
from the coast to a sufficient distance. There is a narrow bank which lies
parallel to the shore from nine to twelve miles off, which would be very useful
to vessels off the coast at night if it were traced and laid down, but the coast
is only sounded out to 5 and 6 fathoms, which is about four miles off.
The Battnah coast forms the southern shore of the Gulf of Oman. It is, as
its name implies,! a low level coast, 185miles in length. About ten miles west
of Maskat, the hills fall back from the coast; here, therefore, commences the
Battnah coast which ends atDibbah (a small town 47 miles S. of Moosendom
island), for here the hills are close to the sea again. Having sailed along the
coast from Maskat, one cannot fail to remark the change in its character at
this part. The Battnah coast, which was low and covered with date groves,
and the plain of which has been gradually narrowing as the mountains neared
the sea, is now changed for the rugged barren hills which rise precipitously
from the sea, and thus continue to the Cape, in some places forming a grey,
rugged, and furrowed wall, rising nearly 2000 feet. This is the eastern coast
of the Roos al JibalJ. The Battnah coast has been of late visited by the
squadron, in consequence of the slave dealers landing their cargoes on it, to be
marched over the narrow neck to the Arabian towns, whereby they have
escaped the vigilance of the cruisers employed within the Gulf to intercept
them. It has also been for a considerable period a scene of warfare between
the Imam of Maskat and his vassals. It is known to be a fertile and well
populated district. The existing chart, entitled “ Battnah or Burka Coast,”
extends from Maskat to Core Culba,§ 170 miles. It is constructed from a
“ running survey,” made in the same manner that nearly all original maritime
surveys of newly explored lands have been made. It was executed between
the 21th March and the 6lh of April, 1828, in the E. I. C. S. “Discovery.”
Considering that a fortnight only was devoted to the survey ot 170 mdes of
* Notice of this rook was publi-hed in the" liombay Government Gazette/’ 18)1, page
937 ; ami in the “ Nautical Magazine” voi. vl, p. 44.
•j 1 Bat*ha, low lying, gravelly ground. A large open (dace.
£ Not as on the chart “ Has el J ibbul,” for that is in the _ singular, the Cape of the Moun
tain,. The Arab name is in the plural, meaning a region ot Capes ai
exactly its character.
| Properly, Khaur Kalbat, The flitch’s Creek.
and Mountains, which is-