"الخليج الفارسي وخليج عُمان. الموارد والدفاعات الساحلية. ١٩٠٣." [ظ‎‎٢‎٢] (١٢٠/٥١)

40
PERSIAN GULF.—RESOURCES AND DEFENCES.
Anchorage,
&c.
No repairing
facilities.
Supplies.
Communica
tions.
Old defences.
Vessels can lie off the town in the Hafar channel, close to the
bank, but, there being no room to swing, they generally anchor
near the mouth of the channel.
There is no information as to landing places.
It is understood that there are no facilities for repairs.
Coal .—There is no information as to coal.
Water .— There is no information as to wells. The water in
the Hafar channel, as in the Shatt-al-Arab, is fresh, and it is both
cooler and purer than the water of the latter river.
Food .—A few supplies can be obtained in the bazaar at Mo-
hammerah.
The surrounding country would appear to be capable of
furnishing large food supplies if required.
Hoads .—On Lord Curzon’s map of 1891, a road is shown run
ning from Mohammerah to the E., connecting with a road which
follows the E. bank of the Karun River to Ahwaz, Shuster,
Dizful, Ac.
Steamers .—Bucknall Bros, and the Anglo-Arabian Steam
Navigation Co.’s steamers call regularly.
A steamer of the Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation
Co. (Messrs. Lynch) plies fortnightly between Mohammerah and
Ahwaz.
Telegraph .—A telegraph line connects Mohammerah with
Ahwaz, following roughly the W. bank of the Karun.
It may be noted that the Turkish land line connecting Fao
with Basra follows the W. bank of the Shatt-al-Arab* and passes
close to Mohammerah. It is believed that there is no connection
between the Persian and Turkish lines at present.
There were originally three mud batteries at the mouth of the
Hafar channel, viz., one on each of the points flanking the en
trance and one on the N. shore, a few hundred yards higher up
the channel, close to where the British Consulate now stands.
The batteries were bombarded and reduced to ruins by the
British in 1857, and at the present day only the remains of the
south battery are visible, the site being used as a quarantine
station.
Saluting According to a press account in 1902 the Sheikh of Moham-
battery. merah has four guns under a canopy at Feilieh, 1 mile up
the Shatt-al-Arab (? identical with Fahliyah on Chart 1,235)
which are used for saluting purposes, and always return the
salutes of mail steamers.* The size of the guns is not known.
Steamers, < 6 c. According to the same press account the Sheikh has two river
steamers, and also steam launches moored off “ Feilieh.” It is
not stated whether these are armed.
Armed According to the same account the “ Sheikh’s people ” are
natives. plentitully supplied with Martinis—the tribes, mainly Arab, are
very independent of Persian rule, and never more united than
now ( 1902 ) under the Sheikh. 1
1 he same account states that the residence of the Sheikh is at Feilieh,
whilst the residence of bis Persian princess, an imposing building, lies a
little higher up the river.