'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.' [‎370] (401/582)

INHABITANTS OF BUSSORAH.
the inhabitants of it. Such sudden changes are not uncommon in
the great cities of the Eastern world, and more particularly in
those which, like Bussorah, are frequently exposed to become
subject to different masters, and be contended for as a frontier
post between two warring powers, and whose prosperity, even in
times of political tranquillity, depends on so precarious a founda
tion as foreign trade.
At the present moment, while it enjoys sufficient security from
all dangers without, and is subject to its old masters the Turks?
who preserve good order within, the population is on the increase,
and may amount altogether to nearly 100,000 souls. About one-
half of these are Arabs, one-fourth Persians, and the remaining
fourth a mixture of Turks, Armenians, Indians, Jews, and Ca
tholic Christians, with a few Koords from the mountains of Koor-
distan, and a small portion of the Arab Christians, called Subbees,
or disciples and followers of John the Baptist.
The Arabs are mostly persons born in the town, or in its
immediate neighbourhood, with occasional settlers from Bagdad,
Kourna, and the • villages along the banks of the Tigris and
Euphrates, as well as some few Desert Arabs from the country of
Nedjed, and trading people from Coete, or Graine, the great sea-port
of that part of Arabia. The occupations of the Arab population
are chiefly commercial among the higher order, and labour and
cultivation among the lower. The religion of both is of the
Soonnee sect of Mohammedism, and they are in general suffi
ciently tolerant to those of a different faith. The dress of the
merchants, who are originally of Bussorah, as well as those who
come from Moosul and Bagdad, differs but little from that of the
same class of people in Syria, except that it is here gayer and more
costly in the same rank of life. Indian muslins and Angora
shalloons are worn in the summer; but fine broad cloths, of the
brightest colours, Indian stuffs, and Cashmeer shawls, form the
winter apparel; and these are displayed in such variety, as to
make the wardrobe of a well-dressed man exceedingly expensive.