‘Gazetteer of Persia, Part III, including Fārs, Lūristān, Arabistān, Khūzistān, Yazd, Karmānshāh, Ardalān, Kurdistān’ [‎203r] (410/686)

883
KHA—KHA
calcareous particles by constant attrition formed into a variety of
shapes, and dead shells without pebbles either calcareous or quartzy.
The inhabitants of the island are degenerated Arabs, who live within
the walls of the fort which enclose a much larger space than is now
required, even though many gardens are attached to the houses. Their
occupation principally consists in piloting vessels up the Shatt-ul-Arab
to Basra and in fishing. They proceed to the banks of the Shatt-ul-
Arab in the date season, and on their return cultivate the soil on Kharag
and the neighbouring island of Korgo Kharagu (St. John's map) and
Khargu ( Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Pilot). (?) The grains grown are maize, barley,
and wheat ; brinjals, radishes, beans and gourds are abundant, but
fruits are scarce. A few grapes and water-melons can only be procur
ed at times on the island, while every variety of fruit and vege
table, with other supplies, are easily and cheaply obtainable from
Bushahr and Basra. The botanical productions of Kharag are the date
tree, banyan Merchant of Indian extraction. {Ficus Indica), willow {Acacia Arabica), henna bush, cotton
plant, tamarisk, jowasa, &c., some of the common fruits of Persia, and
occasionally on the rock a few aromatic shrubs. The wood on the
island is insufficient to afford a supply of fuel, which is brought in
small boats from the neighbouring islands. Bullocks and sheep are fed
on the island, but with the exception of a few antelopes, no quadruped
exists in a state of nature. Partridges and quails are occasionally
seen. Turtles have been caught on the beach, and fish is plentiful.
The water found on the island is abundant and of excellent quality;
it is obtained either by digging wells 20 feet below the surface, or
from long subterranean aqueducts which extend often from the
centre or from one side of the rocky part of the island to the other.
These underground channels were found by the Dutch, and were
believed by them to be very ancient : they extend inwards often
a mile in the solid rock, and holes, circular and square, are cut down upon
them from 10 to 15 feet deep to admit fresh air and light, in order to
permit the inhabitants to pass up and remove any accumulation likely
to choke them and to raise the water. Their mouths are frequently in
a low arched cavern formed by nature, and it is not until some distance
inwards that they exhibit art as having been had recourse to for their
formation. It is therefore most probable that the springs, having been
discovered issuing from the rock by the first inhabitants of the island,
were followed up to their sources to ensure a constant supply of water.
Their courses are generally in a straight direction, and their beds run
on a soft calcareous soil, the basis on which the coralline rock of the
island is superincumbent, and which has been originally removed for the
construction of these aqueducts; so that almost invariably the rock
forms their roofs, down which places for the admission of air and light
are cut. The stream from these springs is small, but constantly and
generally terminates in a large pool outside the cavern in a ravine,
whose hollow exhibits an abundance of natural vegetation, or is con
verted into a garden by the natives. Captain Taylor, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. ,
Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. , however, writing in 1818, says, ^The quality of the
water does not deserve the encomiums passed on it."
The climate of Kharag has always been deemed very salubrious.