'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.' [‎366] (397/582)

350 DESCRIPTION OF BUSSORAH.
space enclosed within the walls of Bussorah, even when thus
extended.
Dr. Vincent, in endeavouring to prove the etymology of Tal-
mena, one of the stations of Nearchus, as given by Arrian, to be
from a ruined fort, takes the Tal from the Hebrew for a ruined
heap, and Mina from the Arabic for a fort, which he supports
by saying that Mina, Minau, at the Anamis, and Minavi at Basra,
are all expressive of a fort. # But this is not true, as Mina in
Arabic signifies a port, or anchoring-place for ships,-)- as well as
a landing-place for boats, and answers exactly to the Italian term
Scala, which is used throughout the Mediterranean for similar
places. On the coast of Syria, the town of Tripoli is about a
mile or two from the sea, and the landing and anchoring place
before it is called El Mina. This is the case also at Latikea, just
above it; and even in Egypt, where towns are at a little distance
from the river, as Cairo, Manfalout, and Assiout, the places at
which the boats land are called El Mina, or the port of the town,
to which it serves as such. In no one instance do I remember the
application of this, or even a term like it in sound, to a fort, in any
of the numerous dialects of Arabia which I have heard spoken.
After passing the Mekam on the right, and Minawi on the
left, the rest of the way up to the city by the canal is bordered
by a public road on the southern side, and date-trees and gardens
on the northern, for about half a mile or more; and though the
canal, from being narrow and low, is exceedingly hot in the day
time, the sun beating on it with full power, and the high banks
keeping off all wind, yet, at the cool time of morning or evening,
when the water is high flood, the passage up and down is
agreeable.
At the distance of about a mile from the entrance of the
canal, the houses of Bussorah are first met with, and these are
most thickly placed on the southern side. Somewhat less than
Commerce of the Ancients in the Indian Ocean, vol, i. p. 263. 4to.
t a port, haven, harbour, an anchoring-ground for ships.— Richardson, p. 1922.