'Persia Intelligence Report. May, 1946' [‎8v] (16/80)

14
(A) COAST [Part V — continued]
Nearby are the ruins of Old Hormuz, which was abandoned when the inhabitants moved to the
island of Hormuz.
The town of Minab is situated about 13 miles north-eastward of the mouth of the Minab river.
The town is only a collection of mud huts. The district produces dates, plantains, mangroves, wheat,
henna, etc.
Five and a half miles south-south-eastward of the Minab river, is the mouth of the Mazavi river.
In ordinary times very little of the water in this river flows into the sea as it is diverted by irrigation
canals.
Close to the south of the Mazavi river stands the village of Khargun. This may be identified by
a turtle-backed hillock and some date trees ; the land in the vicinity is low and sandy.
About 10 miles south-south-eastward of Khargun is Kuhistak, another small coastal village.
Here the mangrove swamps and creeks end and the hills approach the sea from behind the coastal
plain. There is a fort from 80 to 100 ft. high in the village of Kuhistak, which makes it easily
recognisable.
From Kuhistak the coast runs, with only slight indentation, for 20 miles south-south-east to
Bandar Sirik. The coastal range is from 2 to 3 miles inland, and on the immediate coast are sand hills
from 30 to 40 ft. high, with occasional gaps. There are several small villages at intervals, mostly
identified by date groves. Bandar Sirik, a small backwater used by dhows, is situated near a sandy point,
about 5 miles northward of the mouth of the Gaz river. Landing may be effected about J-mile northward
of Bandar Sirik.
The Gaz river has no marks to identify its mouth from seaward, but it appears to be deep enough
for coastal craft to enter.
From the Gaz river the coast trends south-east for over 40 miles to Ras-al-Kuh.
Kunari point, 13 miles south of the Gaz river, is very low and partly covered at high water. The
Kunari river is 6 miles north of the point, and is navigable by small boats for 3| miles, with a depth
of 4 ft. over the bar and 14 ft. inside ; the banks are low and covered with mangroves. There is a
shoal, over which is a depth of 4 fathoms, about 2j miles south-west of Kunari point. Between Kunari
point and Ras-ash-Shir, a distance of 12 miles, there are patches of mangroves. This latter point and
the coast to the northward of it should be given a wide berth, the §hoal here extends 3 miles off shore.
From Ras-ash-Shir the coast trends south-south-east in a shallow curve, for about 15 miles ;
approximately half-way stands the Proserpine rock. This is a wedged shaped rock, about 70 ft. high,
standing close off shore. There is a tower on the coast 1J miles northward of the rock, near which is a
small creek with depths of 2 to 4 ft.
Three and a quarter miles north of Ras-al-Kuh, in a swampy plain, 1 mile inland, stands
Kuh-i-Mubarak, a very remarkable isolated rock ; it is light in colour, 333 ft. high and has a hole in the
upper eastern corner, open from north-westwards and south-eastward.
Ras-al-Kuh is a low point, with a bank |-mile off shore, this has depths of less than 3 fathoms
over it, and the edge is steep-to. The coast is sandy with tufts of grass ; a creek used by native craft,
enters the sea close north-westward of the point. About 3 miles to the north-east of the point is the
small village of Mugmalam.
Anchorage may be obtained, in 6 to 10 fathoms f-mile off shore about 1 mile south-eastward of
Ras-al-Kuh. Cape Jask, lies across the bay of the same name, 25 miles to the east-south-eastward
of Ras-al-Kuh. The intervening coast is low with a belt of mangrove trees connected by creeks with
the low sandy shore. The coastal bank, extends 1| miles off shore, and has depths of under 3 fathoms.
Gahha shoal, a small 1| fathom patch of soft mud, steep-to, lies 3 miles off shore, 10 miles east-
south-eastward of Ras-al-Kuh. %
Several prominent mountains are visible from seaward, long before shore is sighted.
(For details of Jask see (B) PORTS.)
(6) Jask to the Baluchistan Frontier (Admiralty Chart 38)
From Jask the general trend of the coast line is east-south-east for about 200 miles to the
Baluchistan frontier which joins the sea in Gwatar Bay.
Jask East bay lies to the eastward of Jask point and extends to Ras Jagin about 20 miles east-
south-east. The hills approach the coast at the head of the bay, ending in white cliffs 1,720 ft. high
and which terminate about 1 mile from the shore.
The north-west shore of the bay is rocky and level, about 14 ft. high, with a sandy beach, rocky
ledges and low cliffs. The north-eastern shore is low and sandy and fringed by a sandbank which dries
out to a distance of ^ mile.
Anchorage may be found, sheltered from west winds, in 6 to 8 fathoms, close off the north-west
shore, but the bay is open to easterly and north-easterly winds.
There is a small village with date palms on the north-eastern coast, and 8 miles north-west of
Ras Jagln is the entrance to a stream.
Ras Jagin, which has a sand spit extending ^ mile south-westward of it is low and sandy, and the
Jagin river flows out close to the eastward. Inland of the point is a mangrove swamp from which a
plain extends to the hills behind.
From Ras Jagln to Sadaich point which lies 31 miles almost due east, the coast is low with
mangrove swamps intersected by many creeks. Thirteen miles east of Ras Jagln one of the largest