'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎215] (388/524)

FROM RAS JASHK TO BASRAH
215
an d Southward of it there is an extent of flat rocky reef varying in
breadth from i mile to 150 yards, on «nch the cable would lie ex
posed to the sun for some hours in each day, while at this point there is
no reef. At Rishir point the steamer under my charge anchored in 2$
fathoms, soft mud, distant only ^ mile, and thence muddy bottom
was carried for a distance of 400 yards, or only 300 yards, off shore :
thence the bottom is soft rock and sand into the shore, whic is o
cliffs 20 feet high. It does not dry off more than 50 yards, and it
would be easy to trench the soft rock up to high-water mark, or to
build a tower at low-water mark, and take the wire from it to the top
of the cliff. This landing place is sheltered also from the heaviest
part of the sea in a Shemal, although open to the South-easter. The
soft stone of the cliff, a coarse shelly conglomerate, in the neighbour
hood, is quarried for building stone: it is easily dressed into square
blocks.
Size of Cable.—I am of opinion that two cables, say of the 10-ton size*
a married 15 together, would stand little chance of being disturbed:
they would sink deep into the mud, and the event of a large ship an
choring, is after all a remote contingency. I cannot recollect ever
seeing one anchor anything like so tar down. If carried out to the 10
fathom line, miles would be required on each cable ; no special ar.
rangements appear necessary for landing the shore end. Thence to
the 20 fathom line the two cables would diverge, the distance being
Seven and eight miles i bottom soft mud ; the water deepening regularly*
2 ^$.—The tides are weak, setting up and down the coast: maxi
mum certainly under one knot per hour.
Land ime.—Rishir point is 5J miles distant from the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at
Bu-shehr, but only 1| miles from the Resident’s country house. I do
not consider any particular notice necessary about the land line. The
ground is generally soft rock or stony : near Bu-shehr sandy, with pro
bably rocky foundation at a small depth.
A convenient house for offices in Bu-shehr could be got at a small
rent: one of the largest in the town is let to the senior Naval Officer
for 60 kerans a month. I much doubt whether the consent of the
Persian authorities could be obtained to our building one near the Re
sident’s country house, which would be a far healthier situation—it is
five to six miles South of the town.