The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XII, No. 2 [‎295r] (92/154)

PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. /NOTES.
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direction of the storm—to the little aberrations in direction which cause the fore
caster to fail in his predictions for considerable areas. When we are able to
construct isobaric gradients at the 1-mile level, it may be discovered that the
storm-centre at that elevation will not always coincide with the geographica
location of the storm-centre at the surface of the Earth. The displacement of this
centre may possibly give some indication of the future direction of the storm. In
other words, there are many interesting problems to be solved by this investigation.
PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. NOTES.
KHAEAG ISLAND.
By Captain A. W. STIFFE, R.I.M.
A few notes on this island may be of interest, there being ancient remains as
well as more recent ones of the time of the Dutch settlement. Kharag is 4 miles
long, and 3 miles broad at the northern end, being roughly triangular in shape,
and lies off the Persian coast 31 miles north-west by west from Bushire.* It is
hilly, except the north-east corner, and the ground very broken and rocky. The
hills are capped with a thin bed of nearly horizontal calcareous breccia of tertiary
age, under which is a great thickness of softer beds, which are being gradually
removed by rain and wind, when the upper crust breaks up and falls in large
slabs and masses, and presents a curious picture of desolation. The highest part is
284 feet above the sea, and is occupied by a small tomb. The village on the low
north-east point is inhabited by fishermen. It was for many years the home of the
pilots for the river (the Shat-el-Arab), and all vessels hound to Basrah had to call
here for their pilot for the river.
The population at the time of the survey was estimated at 400 men, mostly
fishermen, with a few Persian soldiers. Much of the plain and many of the valleys
were cultivated, with date plantations and gardens, and there were flocks and herds
among the hills. A few antelope were to be found, mostly on the north-west side.
There are several short kanats, or underground channels, to convey water from the
hills to the lower ground.
The most ancient of the remains found here, are certain small caverns hollowed
out of the soft rock, and coffin-like troughs excavated in the surface of the rock, all
apparently for burial-places. The largest of the caves we entered was about 15 feet
square, and 8 high inside, the roof being slightly domed. They have been
ornamented internally with carved mouldings, and externally, the face of the rock
scarped vertically and worked into tracery of pillars and arches, well preserved
where not exposed to the weather. The interior of some of them has arched
recesses, and has been subdivided by thin vertical partitions of the live rock left
when hewing out the caves. In these are horizontal grooves, apparently for sliding
shelves, from their size adapted for the reception of the dead. Unfortunately, the
vertical party-walls have been in great part destroyed, the caves being used as
cattle-pens, but the grooves were still perfect, about 1£ feet apart, and in four tiers.
Of later remains, the principal is a tomb with a spire (sketch) standing behind
these caves, higher up the hillside. It is said to be of Mir Muhammad, a son of
* Properly Abu-Shahar, but the English corruption is so general that it seems
impossible now to establish the correct name (see map of island reduced from Lieut.
Anderson, b.e.).
N 2