'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.' [‎365] (396/582)

DESCRIPTION OF BUSSORAH.
365
length; and the few brick-built bridges that are thrown across
them in different parts of the town, are of the meanest kind.
On coming from the river, and going up to Bussorah by the
central canal, the entrance is made through a narrow mouth, with
a circular fort on the left, and a mosque with a small minaret on
the right. Several houses follow on each side, those on the left
being chiefly timber-yards, and storehouses of articles most in de
mand for the use of boats and shipping ; and that on the right,
called El Mekam, having a coasting custom-house, with a coffee
house, mosque, and the dwellings of those whose occupations have
drawn them to reside around this spot.
The portion of buildings on the right of the canal at its
entrance is called 4 El Mekam,' literally the place of residence for
the governor's lieutenant, # and was formerly the station of such
an officer from the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Bussorah, who had his own palace
further up in the city. The portion of buildings on the left side
of the canal, and opposite to El Mekam at the entrance, is called
4 Minawi.'
In the time of Hossein Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the son of Ali Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , both
of them mentioned in the Travels of Pietro della Valle and
Tavernier, the city of Bussorah was distant nearly two miles from
the banks of the river, and Minawi was then a distinct village,
serving as the port or landing-place. It was this Hossein who
extended the walls of the former town down to the river, and
enclosed the village of Minawi within it, by which means all the
intermediate fields and gardens which had never before, nor have
even since been built upon, became incorporated with the rest.
The newly enclosed village was then fortified by a strong wall
continued all around it, and formed nearly an eighth of the whole
* .UU 1st. A place of residence, a dwelling, a mansion. 2d. State, dignity, condition.
Thus, tiU Us from standing in, 6xed in, &c. and ^ a place, forms the Arabic,
Turkish, and Persian title of Kaim. Mekam, meaning a lieutenant, vicegerent; and as such
is applied to the deputy governor of Constantinople, or to any other locum tenens.—
Richardson s Arabic Dictionary, p. 1809.