Report No. 73 of 1864 by Lewis Pelly on his journey from Bandar Abbas to Cape Jask reconnoitering the route of the proposed telegraph line [‎2r] (3/20)

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9. The plain is very thinly peopled, and these few seem quiet and well disposed
Perhaps the neighbourhood of the route that I followed may possess some advan
tages over others for a Telegraphic line—
Firstly. — Because, if I am rightly informed, the influence of the sea air is injurious
to the wire to a distance inland of at least from 3 to 4 miles.
Secondly. —Because a line running close by the shore would encounter soft or
marshy points, and might be liable to injury from boatmen landing.
Thirdly. — Because the route I indicate would have at all events the protection of a
few inhabited spots.
Fourthly. — Because it is more direct than any route to its Northward ; and—
Fifthly. —-Because the nearer you approach to the Northern hills, the more risk you
run from the inroad of wandering mountain tribes, and from the mischiev
ous propensities of the Cafila A train of travellers; a caravan; or any large party of travellers. men along the main roads into the interior.
10. If protection should be required for this part of tiie route, it could readi-
Iv be procured on the spot under authority from the Sultan of Muscat. But
I am deferentially of opinion, that in the first instance it might be well for us to
assume that special protection by the local Chiefs is not required, and that the
Articles of Agreement given by the Sultan are sufficient guarantee. The merchants
at Bunder Abbass and at Minow are quite alive to the advantages of Telegraphic
communications, as are also the local authorities, whose revenue is dependent on
the prosperity of those merchants. Both the one and the other- would, I feel sure,
exert all their influence to preserve the line from injury. If after any named period
no injury should have occurred, a complimentary present to a local authority would
come with good grace and effect, and the gratitude of expectancy would remain
unimpaired. Whereas, if we began with miscellaneous present-giving and regular
pavments for protection, the former would sooner or later cease and cause discontent;
and the latter would be liable to degenerate into a sort of permanent blackmail, which
could not afterwards be refused without risk. Of course we should pay such men
as we might ourselves employ along the line, and it would be foi Go>ernment to
determine whether it might not be both equitable and politic for them to accord
to the Sultan of Muscat some acknowledgment for the use of His Highness' territory
for Telegraphic purposes.
11. The second portion of the route comprises the district of Minow* It is
* The district of Minow has been known frem antiquity as sn oasis favoured by nature beyond any
other spot perhaps in all the desolate regions stretching from Kurrachee to Bushire. It may have been
at one of the sea creeks piercing this district that the conference was held on board Nearchus' fleet to
deliberate on the comparative difficulties of following the Persian or Arabian coasts of the Persian Gult,
and on the practicability of communicating with the army returning from Kerman. The Arabian hills
of Omman near Cape Mussendom are visible from Mmow.
Minow is said to mean in old Persian sweet water par excellence ; in modern Persian Minow would
mean garden land situate by running water. And in Arabic it would mean flowing, from the root " Mana/'
to flow.