'IRAQ AND THE PERSIAN GULF' [‎103r] (210/862)

COASTS OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. 131
South of Khor Quwai is a cliffed bay containing three coves, two with
hamlets, Ghurum and Qabba, at their heads.
Cliffs 650 feet high continue south-west to Khor Ghubb Ali, an
inlet 4! miles long between the south-west side of the Musandam
peninsula and the north-east side of the Shamm peninsula; the small
village of Ghubb Ali is near a sandy beach at its head and has anchorage
off it, sheltered except from the north-west. The west coast of the
high Shamm peninsula is 6 miles long and is cliffed except at the
head of a small inlet where Hassa village stands close to a sandy
beach.
Jabal Shamm (2,921 ft.) marks the narrow winding entrance to
Elphinstone inlet (Khor ash Shamm) that shuts out the sea breezes
and gives the inlet the reputation of being the hottest and most
oppressive place in the world. East of the entrance the inlet widens
out in an area of soft shales and sandstones, and winds inland for
7 miles; it has numerous steep-sided coves, some with small villages
at their heads, deserted in summer. On one of several islets are the
remains of a submarine-cable station which was established by the
Eastern Telegraph Company in 1864; it was abandoned four years
later as the staff could not stand the climate, and was transferred
to Henjam island off the island of Qishm and later to Jask. The
east and south shores of Elphinstone inlet are formed by the Wali
Akbar (Maqlab) isthmus, a high narrow ridge which joins the
Musandam peninsula to the Ruus al Jibal promontory and separates
Elphinstone inlet from the head of Malcolm inlet, an arm of the gulf
of Oman (photos. 57, 58).
West of Elphinstone inlet the north coast of the Ruus al Jibal
promontory continues high and rocky, with two coves, to Khasab
bay, a natural harbour sheltered by Ras Shaikh Masud from south
west winds. Khasab village is behind a large date-grove at the head
of a cove opening north into the bay; it is at the mouth of a long dry
creek about 400 yards wide bounded by vertical limestone cliffs; a
seventeenth-century Portuguese fort stands half-way along the shore.
There is anchorage 1 mile north of the fort, sheltered except from the
north. Khasab is comparatively large, and during the summer many
inhabitants of the hamlets in the Musandam peninsula and Ruus al
Jibal promontory live in temporary huts in its gardens and date-
groves. Wheat and barley are grown by irrigation from wells, fish
are exported as cattle-fodder, and boats are built of teak imported
from Malabar; other exports are firewood, charcoal, and sheep.
Between the western entrance of Khasab cove and Ras Shaikh