"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الجزء II. ج. ج. لوريمر. ١٩١٥" [‎٢‎٦‎٦‎١] (١٢٦٢/١١٧٨)

2661
that he does entirely to youi* satisfaction, is a farther guarantee for their protection.
I hope that the position which British interests thus enjoy, and which is neither
artificial in origin nor recent in growth, since it is the result of nearly a century and
a half of patient and laborious effort both by Government and by private enterprise,
may long be maintained, and that Bushehr may continue in the future, as it has done
in the past, to be the centre from which this benign and peaceful influence radiates
throughout Southern Persia and the Persian Gulf.
Soon after the conclusion of this ceremony Sir A. Hardinge took
leave of Lord Curzon and returned to the British Residency^ whence he
proceeded a few days later to Muhammareh and the Karun, afterwards
returning via Basrah, Baghdad and Kirmanshah to Tehran. The squadron
also dispersed, H. M. S. "Fox" alone remaining on duty with the
Viceroy and being despatched in advance to the port of Pasni in British
Makran. Shortly before midnight the c< Hardinge" left her anchorage
off Bushehr and the return voyage to India was commenced.
Departure
from Bosh'
ehr.
f
rour ^ i
End of the cruise, 4tli to 7th December.
On the 4th of December the Persian coast remained in sight to the
northwards during the greater part of the run. Bare mountains, cleft by
ravines and totally devoid of vegetation, appeared to rise directly from the
water's edge though really distant many miles inland; here and there
small fishing villages of a few huts, surrounded by trees, could be descried
upon the shore. Eocky islets, among them Hindarabi, Qais and Farur,
were passed bv daylight, and, rounding Has Musandam by night the
" Hardinge" again entered the Gulf of 'Oman. On the morning o e
5fch of December she reached Jashk, where a the mountains in the back-
" ground are as bare as on other parts of the coast, but under the Eastern ^
" sun they present every shade of colour, from lilac and ochre to an
almost ashen white."
After a short halt at Jashk for the purpose of despatching and receiv
ing telegraphic messaages, the Hardinge" proceeded on her way to
Pasni, where she arrived early on the 6th of December and was received
with the usual honours by H. M. S. Fox," the " Patrice Stewart a so
being- present in harbour. Lord Curzon landed to inspect the port, and m
the afternoon a Darbar was held on board the " Hardmge for the Chiefs
and Sardars of Western and Southern Baluchistan, who were accompanied
bv Colonel Yate, Agent to the Governor-General m Baluchistan itus
was the first visit paid by a Governor-General of India to any place in
Makran. Just at sundown the Agent to the Governor-General left
the " Hardinge. 1 ' immediately his salute had ceased, the bugles sounded
the retreat and the flags fell simultaneously on board all three vessels,
o-iving to the cruise a fitting and dramatic conclusion. I he Jdardmge
weighed anchor after nightfall and entered Karachi atnoonthe next day,
— - 1 1 - 0 01 pmns from the Manorah tort.
the 7th of December, under a salute of 31
Voyage down
the Gulf.
Durbar at
Pansi.
From Buslielir to Jaslik, a distance of 494 miles, the " Hardinge _ Speed of
had maintained a speed of 154 knots an hour, and from Jashk to toyage
a speed of 17 knots, the latter distance being 344 miles. Between
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