"تقرير عسكري وكتاب مسارات. الأقطار العربية المطلة على الخليج الفارسي. ١٩٣٩" [ظ‎‎١‎٢‎٠] (٣٢٨/٢٤٠)

208
Muscat Cove at the head of which lies the town, is a
good harbour but open to any winds between the north
west and north-east. It is thus exposed to the shamals.
The holding ground is good. It is 9 to 13 fathoms at ths
entrance shoaling gradually to two fathoms at about a cable
from the head of the cove.
Kalbuh Cove is to the west of Muscat Cove. It is eight
to four fathoms deep in the outer part, but this part is
not used for anchorage as it affords little shelter. In the
inner part the depth is from four to one fathom.
Matrah bay is west of Kalbuh cove with the town at
its head. It is a good anchorage, sheltered from the
shamal but open to the north-east wind.
At both Muscat and Matrah steamships of large draught
can anchor, but the port facilities are very pi 'imitive. The
only pier is the coaling one in Muscat cove extending from
the coal sheds with four feet of water at its outer end. The
coal sheds are now (1939) in ruins and no coal is stored
there. There is no inland communication from the pier.
There are two wharves at Muscat, one under Fort
Mirani is 180 feet long, with steps on the south and east
sides. There is at least four feet of water at both steps,
ihe other is the customs wharf, 200 feet long, it has no
steps and is almost dry at low water.
There are no lifting appliances.
^ ater can be supplied to ships by stand pipe from
an aqueduct at the wharf below Mirani Fort. It can also
be supplied to vessels at anchor in a water lighter of 45
tons capacity.
Landing can also be effected on the beach from local
craft. At Muscat the beach is only fifty yards wide and
enclosed by buildings. The best place to land is in front
of the Agency.
The beach at Matrah is spacious and landing from
local craft would be simpler and easier here than at Muscat
as the bay is more sheltered. At Muscat winds of any
torce send in ^ a considerable swell. Ramps constructed
of locally obtained material called Da'an could be erected
on the Matrah beach. The British force sent to Oman