'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎212] (385/524)

212
REPORT ON THE LINE OF TELEGRAPH
accustomed to supplying the English, who would establish themselves
at Khasab at once.
Access to the Mountains.—This place also seems to afford the
easiest access to the great mountains, indeed the people offered to
take us to the highest point in a day.
Land-line. —If it were wished to avoid the second landing, a land-
line might, I think, he taken by a very circuitous route from the sta
tion on Has as Sheikh to the Isthmus. Mr. Greener however considers
it would be impossible to maintain it in working order.
Building materials.—The limestone, of which all these hills are
composed, is a good building stone, it splits readily into rectangular
masses. The natives build their huts of the naturally squared blocks
found plentifully on all sides, without any mortar.
Date tree trunks, split into 2 or 3 pieces, are the usual, indeed almost
the only, rafters or beams used in the country; we were informed at
Khasab that a large supply could be obtained there at 1 Reran (say
shilling) for each trunk or pair of beams. The mortar used at Khasab
is bad, but the people stated that better could be made if required.
Temporary Wooden Barracks —I w r oulcl submit, whether it might not
be better in the first instance to send out jointed wmoden Barracks from
England; they could be erected without loss of time on any particular
site preferred by the officer in charge of the expedition, and should it
eventually be found desirable to change the position, could be moved at
a small expense. Their freight out would not be considerable, and
they would always be useful afterwards. (They might be sent out in a
coal ship). Of the wooden Barracks made in Bombay for the Persian
War, none are at present on hand there.
'Permanent Buildings.—Vox the permanent erections, I think build
ings of two stories are highly desirable, to avoid the great heat rever
berated or radiated from the dark rocky ground, which must become
intensely heated in summer.
ihe ground being every where rock, little preparation in the way of
foundation would be needed.
I he style of house well adapted for the climate would be the flat-
oo(ed house of the country, with thick walls, many narrow windows,
and a thick layer of earth and plaster on the roof. * Perhaps badghirs