'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎117] (284/524)

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PORTION OF THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . ]17
Towards the end of last February I was~ directed to accompany
the Resident on a tour round the Northern portion of the Gulf of
Persia.
Ihe trip seemed so interesting, that I made a few notes on the
road.
We left this in the Mail Steamer, and after some delay, anchored at
the mouth of the Bussorah Creek on the evening of the 2/th.
February 28^.—This morning we got twenty baggage and three
riding horses in from Zobaire, and at 4-20 p. m. mounted. We
rode for two hours at the rate of four miles an hour, direction South
west to Ashereah. Then half an hour, direction West South-west, to
Zobaire, and encamped at the East gate.
Zobaire is a town surrounded by a mud wall and containing about
3,000 inhabitants at most, who are principally engaged in supplying
carriage to Bussorah. The inhabitants are Arabs of a Mongrel breed,
contaminated by their proximity to Bussorah. The Sheikh seemed
inhospitable. Five minutes walk SE. of the town is a large spring of
good water flowing out of the ground in sufficient quantity to supply
ten thousand men. Ibis place is called Brimeah. The ground round
is covered with ruins. The size, colour, and general appearance of the
bricks the same as at Ctesephon. There are also the remains of a
large modern house, with a few patches of cultivation and a small round
tower by the side of each well as a protection to the cultivator.
March 1^.—Hard frost; mounted at 11-25 a. m., rode SSW.
for one hour, then South for three, at the rate of four miles an hour to
Salphoon. There are three square enclosures or forts here, with as
many large wells inside of them. The water is bitter, but drinkable.
I he ground watered by those wells is cultivated with garlic and lucern
grass. Wheat and barley do not grow here. There was no barley or
straw for the horses, no bread for the men, and little or no brushwood
for fire. The sheep have nearly all died from the cold, which this
year is excessive. One hour to the West of this place is a large hill, a
capital land-mark, called Isphuan.
March 2nd. Hard frost; skins for holding water frozen. Mounted
at 6-10 a. m. and rode due South over a desert of pebbles and
jung! 0 grass alternated, with here and there the shallow beds of
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