'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.' [‎401] (432/582)

POLICE OF BUSHIRE.
401
no one ventured beyond the precincts of the town, without an
armed party for his defence. The police of the city, under the
present Mutesellim, is so well managed, and a general confidence
is so well established, that it is safe to visit any part of it at any
hour of the night or day. This man himself takes a peculiar
pleasure in perambulating the streets, and going along the creek
in a canoe, disguised and accompanied only by an ugly Abyssinian
slave. They often effect wonders, though alone, even before they
are discovered; and when it is once known who they are that
dare to interfere in rectifying abuses, the dread that they inspire
is sufficient to disperse a host.
There was an order issued but lately by the Mutesellim, for
bidding arms to be worn by Arabs who came into the city from
without; and so much was his authority respected, that the ob
servance of this prohibition was very general. Some persons were
found, however, by the Governor and his slave, during their even
ing rambles, who had disregarded the mandate; and the next day
they were taken, first to the Jisser-el-Meleh, or the Bridge of Salt,
near the British Factory An East India Company trading post. , where they were exposed to public view,
by having their ears nailed to a post for several hours ; they were
next taken before the Palace in the Corn-market, and received
several hundred strokes of the bastinado on the soles of the feet;
after which they had their beards and mustachios shaved off, and
were ultimately turned out of the city, and forbidden ever to enter
its walls again.
Though this severity preserves sufficient safety m the town
and its immediate neighbourhood, there are, nevertheless many
robbers by water on the river, both between this and Kourna
above, and between this and Debbeh below. On the banks of the
Tigris, the Euphrates, the Hye, and the Karoon, it is still worse;
for there are whole tribes who encamp along them, for the sole
purpose of attacking richly laden boats passing the stream. During
fine weather, while the boats can keep in mid-channel, they are
in general safe; but strong southerly winds oblige them some-