'Persia Intelligence Report. May, 1946' [‎30v] (60/80)

58
(B) PORTS
[Part V — continued]
(6) Description of Harbour
There are only two small boat harbours which can be used by small boats except at low .water
when they dry out. There is a good sandy beach which shelves fairly steeply and has no rocks. It
begins 1 mile south-west, from the Custom House, and extends in that direction for about 1 mile towards
Ras Khargu. Cars, etc., can be landed here from dhows.
A similar beach exists in Shias Bay about miles to the sbuth-westward.
(7) Quayage, Cranage and Clearance from Quays
There are no quays or jetties but there are two cambers both of which dry out at low water.
[a] The camber to the north-east of the Custom House which has a wharf-frontage of 120 ft.
and a depth of 6 ft. at high water.
(b) The camber opposite the Custom House which is only suitable for small dhows and boats.
There are no cranes, but a hoist of up to 1 ton can be man handled on to the wharf from dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean.
lighters. A motor car could not be removed from the wharf owing to the very narrow shore approaches.
(9) Harbour Craft
One dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. lighter of 30 tons capacity and several smaller dhows are available for handling cargo.
(10) Landing of Men, Stores and Vehicles by Water Transport
Troops and stores could be disembarked and landed but not rapidly.
(11) Warehouses and Stacking Space
Warehouses, nil. Goods could be stacked on the beaches.
(12) Coal, Oil and Water
There are no coal or fuel oil stocks. Water is not available for boilers.
(13) Docks, Slipways and Repair Facilities
Nil.
(14) Facilities for Clearing Port Area
Rail. —-Nil.
Road .—There is a good track via Bastak and Lar to Shiraz (250 miles). From Lingeh to Bastak,
it is impossible for cars and only just usable beyond that.
The caravan^ track along the coast to Bushire (350 miles) is possible for cars in dry weather.
(15) Normal Functions of Port
Exports are carpets, goat hides, gum arabic, nuts, shark fins (to Hong Kong) and oyster shells in
small quantities. '
Imports consist of rice, tea, flour, grain, timber and cloth.
In normal times, B.I. slow mail steamers call once a fortnight from each direction.
Motor and sailing coasting dhows call and ocean-going dhows from Rung, 7 miles to the north-west,
trade with Lingeh and other gulf ports and do one trip a year to Aden and East Africa.
(16) Estimated Daily Capacity
Very small, probably 50-100 tons, depending on availability of labour and craft.
(b) THE TOWN
(1) General
Lingeh is a town of the usual Arab type, extending for about 1 mile along the coast, the Custom
House being in the centre.
Formerly it had a flourishing pearl fishing industry and 25 years ago it had a population of about
25,000, but this has now fallen to about 3,000 and consequently the town is largely deserted or in ruins
and trade is nearly at a standstill.
Lingeh is connected to the general telegraph system—there is a low power W/T station [see (5)
below).
There is no hospital, but the Persian Government run a small dispensary. Drugs are provided by
the Persian Government.
Some supplies can be obtained including small quantities of beef of poor quality, mutton and
vegetables.
Duck, bustard and sand-grouse can be shot during the winter months, but it is necessary to travel
a few miles inland.
(2) Streets and Through Routes
The streets are very narrow.
(3) Rail Facilities
Nil.