'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.' [‎440] (471/582)

440
VOYAGE FROM BUSHIRE,
noted in Horsburgh's Directory of 1809, in the body of the work,
as discovered by the ship Pearl in 1796. Each of these shoals
appears to occupy a considerable space ; and they are said to be dry
in several parts, though they have a passage between them of
twenty to twenty-five fathoms depth. Among the longitudes of
the squadron, which were all by chronometer, our own was the
westernmost by a few miles, and fresh departures had been taken
from the meridian of Bushire, as in long. 50° 44' east; yet these
shoals were evidently without us, or to the westward of our reckon
ing, and therefore probably to the southward and westward of the
position assigned to them in the books and charts.
Nov. 23rd.—At sun-rise we were off a remarkable mountain on
the Persian shore, which forms a sea-mark for the navigation of
the Gulf, under the name of Charrack Hill. Beneath it is a small
port, of the same name, belonging to the Joassamees, and afford
ing shelter to their piratical boats. This town was once possessed
by the Danes; and there is still a race of their descendants there,
with light hair and blue eyes ; but in all their habits and language
they resemble the aborigines of the country. The high land of Char-
rack seems to be the Mount Ochus of the ancients ; and it is from
every point of view a remarkably conspicuous object. Opposite to
this point of Charrack is the small island of Kenn, or Kym of Hors-
burgh, about ten miles from the shore. It is low, and more thickly
wooded than any of the islands in the Gulf, and is fruitful and
well inhabited. # Supplies of provisions and water may be ob
tained here, as well as shelter found under its lee from the north
west gales, in a good anchorage of nine fathoms, abreast the vil
lage, at its eastern end. As this island is low, it is not to be
* Ammianus Marcellinus says, that the southern part of Persia, bordering on the Gulf,
abounds in palm-trees, in fruits, and in streams, which render it agreeable. He observes also,
that there are many considerable cities in the interior, or higher regions of the country, and
that no towns of note existed on the sea-coast. The reason of this was not understood by
him; but it was undoubtedly because the climate of the coast was less agreeable than that
of the elevated parts of the interior, and because they had no maritime wars or maritime com
merce to render sea-ports necessary.—Lib. xxiii. c. 6.