'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎52] (217/524)

52
REMARKS ON THE TRIBES, &c.
CO- At length you come to Lingah, the port next in importance
to Bushire, of the 2nd Class, as now
That is of ports ethnologically considered. The general charaetei.
Arab, but considered under Class 2. fl r , Ctei
01 tlie commerce ox tnese two ports
is similar ; that of Lingali, of course, being far less in extent and
smaller in variety. Its recent condition bas been unusually prosper
ous. But the history of its rise is instructive. Comparatively a few
vears ago it was almost unknown, and was farmed for 100 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value.
per annum under the local Government of Lar. The farm subsequent
ly rose to 200 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . Presently the Sheikh of Lingah chanced to
have a quarrel with the Sheikh of Abbass. The latter exposed the
lightness of the demand made by government against Lingah, as com
pared with that made elsewhere. The trade of Lingah was inquired
into, and the annual contract raised to 2,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . The increase of
trade then slackened. It may at present have a trade equivalent to about
one-fourth* that of Bushire. The principal attractions of the place
are that goods can be dropped there more quietly than at Bushire, and
with less interference and cost. They can then sometimes find their
way through the dilapidated walls of Shiraz without a second demand;
while a caravan coming from Bushire, is generally advertised to the
authorities at Shiraz.
67. But Lingah, in point of position and lines of road to the
interior, is less favourably situated perhaps than any other port. The
route to Shiraz is arduous, ill-supplied, and unsafe. It is probable its
commerce, as compared with that of other ports, would rather decrease
than otherwise under a thorough development of the Gulf trade.
68. Apart however from its landward trade, Lingah enjoys a sea
carrying trade. She imports timber from India, and may possess
some twelve buglas of from 200 to 300 tons each ; some 50 smaller
craft of from 50 to 60 tons ; and 500 or 600 small coasting buggarehs.
But the number of boats belonging to a port in the Gulf is no sufficient
criterion of the trade of that port. Bunder Abbass possesses scarcely
any boats. Craft call there en route to the Northward or to India,
drop and take in cargo, and pass on. The newly established line of
steamers follow the same practice.
* I suspect its trade is more than one-fourth as large.