'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎75v] (150/344)

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Part V-Chap. XXVIII
promises a cool healthy spot. The prevailing winds during the hot season are north-west,
but as they always take the direction of the land they become here south-west which will
be a sea breeze. The elevated or table land is at a little distance, but as the wind only comes
over it in the cold season there is every reason to suppose it will prevent inconvenience. The
anchorage is also good as represented in the Master Attendant's report marked B.
The next place I visited was a small island called the great Tnmb about 30 or 40 miles
south-west from Salak ; it is about 3 miles in length and 3 in breadth ; there is a large place
in it open to the westward which would be a most eligible spot for a cantonment, but the
want of good water will never allow it to be made a permanent station, there was only one
well which was very bad and brackish. ^
I next went to Basidoo or Bassadore, an old Portuguese town in ruins on north-west
point of Kishm. There are 10 or l i tanks, but 2 only were full of rain water which was
excellent, the remainder were quite dry ; perhaps for want of the channels for conveying the
rain into them not beiny kept clear and open f jO which I am the more inclined as the inhabit
ants are only a few fishermen aud the 2 tanks from which they, promise the water is in
all probability sufficient for them.
In other respects this would be an excellent spot for troops, it being a peninsula sur
rounded on 3 sides by the sea and the hills so far distant that it is open to every wind, The
ground tolerably level and elevated on two sides about 30 feet from the sea by abrupt rocks
which might easily be depended, and the plain is sufficiently large for almost any number of
men and the tanks when filled would be sufficient for 5,000 men for 12 months, as there are
a number of wells which though the water is not good would answer for culinary purposes.
The anchorage is not safe as represented in the Master Attendant's report.
Under all these circumstances I have decided in favour of Salak, it is true as a strong
military position, it does not possess any advantages, but by placing the guns in com
manding situations and it stopping up, some of the small roads through the ravines.I think it
may be rendered as secure as circumstances at pre-ent require.
As it is probable T could not receive an answer to this communication in a month or
perhaps 40 days, and as the season at that time will be too'far advanced to get the barracks
and other buildings erected before the intense hot weather commences and the probable total
failure of water before that time, 1 have written to His Highuess the Imam for permission
to remove there, and not doubting but I shall receive his consent. I have made arrangements
for commencing the movement of the troops and stores on the 1st proximo and all circum
stances considered, I trust the Hon'ble the Governor in Council will approve of the measures
I have adopted.
As the Ordnance stores have increased considerably since the removal from Deristan and as
it will be more advantageous to remove all the materials of the Hospitals, Barracks and Public
Buildings than to buy new and pay for the freight from Menow to Salak, being double the
distance of our present cantonment, I have engaged with the Commanders of the Georgiana
(Bengal country ship) and Malabar for the service of their vessels at the rate of half a rupee
per ton per diem, being fi,2ll per diem for the former so long as I shall require her services
and the latter for one month certain at the rate R181 per diem or R5,430 for the month of
30 days.
I have therefore every reason to think I shall be able to remove the stores, etc., to
Salak for the sum of K,15 or R16,000 including boat hire, but as this will depend on the ^
favourable state of the weather by which the ships can make a greater number of trips
during the month, no exact calculation can be made, but as 1 have taken up the ships at so
«mall a rate, and when it is considered that the troops were moved from Deristan to this station
at an expense of near 5,35,000 for 2 ships alone, I look forward with confidence to the
sanction of the Hon'ble the Governor in Council for the expenses which must be unavoidably
incurred, particularly as t did not decide on the measure without consulting with Captain
Maitland the Senior Officer of the Cruisers, as to the practicability of doing without them.
260. The proposal of Lieutenant Kennet was approved by the Bombay Gov
ernment, and as to Bassidore, instructions were issued to the Superintendent
of the Marine to have the anchorage of that place fully examined (Proceedings
of the Bombay Government, dated 18th February 1822.)
On the 17th February 1822, Captain Lieutenant Kennet reported the
removal of the cantonment to Salak.
260A. A few days afterwards, however, the troops were removed to *
BassidorCt the anchorage being too much exposed for the shipping.