"سرد لرحلة إلى موقع مدينة بابل في ١٨١١، طُبعت الآن لأول مرة: مذكرات على الأطلال؛ مع نقوش من الخرائط المدبئية للمؤلف: ملاحظات على طبوغرافية بابل القديمة،بقلم الرائد رينيل؛ في إشارة إلى المذكرات: مذكرات ثانية على الأطلال؛ في إشارة إلى ملاحظات الرائد رينيل: مع سرد لرحلة إلى برسبوليس: طُبعت الآن لأول مرة، مع كتابات مسمارية نسخت في برسبوليس ولم تُنشر من قبل: كتبها الراحل كلوديوس جيمس ريتش، المحترم، المقيم البريطاني السابق لشركة الهند الشرقية في بغداد. حررته أرملته." [‎١‎٩‎٦] (٤٧٤/٢٩٤)

196
JOURNEY TO PERSEPOLIS.
Bushire, or more properly Abu Sheher*, is situ
ated on a peninsula formed by the basin or harbour
on one side, in which direction the sea makes great
inundations in spring-tides, and the sea on the
other. The coast is shallow and dangerous, and
ships' boats cannot approach it without great diffi
culty.
The new factory, where we were lodged, is situ
ated at the southern extremity of the town, quite
open to the sea, and in the most airy and agreeable
spot in the place.
I was greatly struck with the difference between
this place and Bussora, and as yet decidedly give
Bushire the preference; but they say, during the
calm weather in July and August, the heat is quite
intolerable; not from the height of the thermometer,
which rarely rises above 100°, but from the weight
and humidity of the atmosphere.
The nights are said to be dreadful, and indeed I
can believe it, from a specimen I had of one on my
former passage down to India. r
The common water of the place is brackish,
nauseous, and of a strong purgative quality. At
the factory we drank rain-water, which is soft and
never cool.
When there is no wind at night the dew falls
* I find mention of Abu Sheher in the relation of a voyage by a
deputy of the Piince of Selan, or Ceylon, to the Mameluke sovereign
of Egypt, a.h. 682. Vide Quatreraere's Memoirs, &c., vol. 2, p. 284,
where are the names of several other places oh the shores of the gulf.