'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎393] (424/582)

APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY. 393
be considered as sea-worthy. At present, indeed, no attempt is
made to send them to sea; but they are moored in different parts
of the river, under the pretence of keeping it clear of robbers,
while one lies at the mouth of the creek of Bussorah, to act
as a guard-vessel for the Custom-house ; and the Captain Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ,
who is a person of very little consideration, has his flag-ship
abreast of Minawi, to return the salute of vessels passing her, and
to announce, by a discharge of cannon, the visits of the Mutesellim.
It was about the time of Suliman Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , or nearly half a century
ago, that the Gulf was infested by pirates to a greater degree
than even at present, when for the important services which
the vessels of the Imaum of Muscat rendered to the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
of Bagdad, in assisting to clear the sea of these marauders, and
to give safe passage to ships of trade, the Imaum himself was
permitted to send three vessels annually to Bussorah from his
own port of Muscat, and all his own goods imported in them
were suffered to be landed free of duty. This was, however, too
great a privilege to last for ever, and it has been since commuted
for the payment of an annual sum of one thousand tomauns,
which, however, is still thought to be less than the tenth part
of the gain actually derived from this exemption.
The country around Bussorah has no beauties to recommend
it. On the banks of the Euphrates, on both sides, for a long way
above and below the town, there are sufficient date-trees and
Verdure to relieve the eye; but the country is every where so flat,
and so few villages or people are to be seen, that there is a tire
some, monotonous, and gloomy silence throughout its whole ex
tent. The tract immediately surrounding the city towards the
land is a desert, with a horizon as level as the sea; and as it is
covered with water from the overflowings of the river on the one
side, and of Khore Abdallah on the other, for about six months
in the year, it may be more frequently taken for sea than for
land. This water is sometimes sufficiently deep to admit of the
passage of boats from Bussorah to Zobeir, a town about ten or
3 e