‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎31v] (67/722)

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eastern side by a black buoy. Another buoy painted white is placed at the
extremity of the sand-bank, which runs out to the east from Little Ashur.
In order to enter the Astarabad Bay by this channel, a course S. or S.
£ E. must he held from the light ship on the black buoy which is
left to the west; thence the same course may be held, or a slight bend may
be made to the west, and the course be directed on the white buoy. Having
passed this on the west side, a westerly course will lead straight on to the
Ashur or the Ashur roadstead, where ships can anchor at from 200 to 500
yards from the shore in 17 feet of water, having a muddy bottom. The
distance between the light ship and the black buoy is If miles, between the
black and white buoys is 3 miles, and from the latter to the Ashur roadstead
is 4 miles, so that the whole distance from the light ship to the roadstead
is 8| miles,* the bottom being mud the whole way.
To enter the Astarabad Bay in stormy weather, when it is impossible to see
the light ship or to hear signals, it is necessary to keep in the deep water by
the eastern shore and to cast the lead frequently. When the ship is about 6 or
7 miles north of the light ship, the eastern shore should be hugged, which is
distinguished at this spot isouth of the Hasan Kuli Bay) by but slight depth of
water. After this a depth of 25 feet is reached, and a course S. S. E. is
held until a less depth of water is reached. About the latitude of Khoja-
Nafas, a depth of from 14 to 15 feet should be found and a soft clay bottom;
thence the course is south, keeping to the Turkman shore in a depth of 17
to 18 feet. The soft mud shows the proximity of the Turkman coast, where
the depth of water lessens gradually : a sandy bottom betokens the nearness
of the Ashurada sand-bank, where the depth of water rapidly decreases, so
that from 21 feet, 10 and 8 feet are very quickly reached.
Astarabad Bay is completely sheltered from wind, and affords one of the
most favourable anchorages in the Caspian Sea, both as regards bottom and
depth of water, and also as regards extent. The prevalent wind is westerly,
and it blows more frequently in summer than in winter : it raises the water of
the bay, and when very violent inundates all the islands, not excepting Great
Ashurada, which however at its western and higher end escapes complete sub
mersion. To the influence of this wind, too, must be attributed the formation
of the Potemkui sand-bank and the Ashur islands, and also the change in the
outline of the islands which is progressing at the present time, by which the
north-western part of the island of Ashurada is being gradually washed
away by the action of the wind and waves, whilst the eastern end of the
island is constantly increasing. The channel between Great Ashur and
Potemkui has from the above cause gradually deepened in the course of 15
years (from 1859 to 1874) to the amount of 2 feet, and from the latter date
it has been used by Turkman boats and others drawing 4 to 5 feet of water.
The other winds in the bay are not remarkable for violence ; but after the west
winds, the north-west and north are most prevalent, and in winter blow
strongly. In summer a so-called hot wind blows at intervals from the south
west. When this wind drops, there is generally a sea breeze in the day time
and a land breeze at night. There is no constant current in the bay, but one
is formed by the ebb and flow of the water, and on this account depends on the
force and duration of the wind. At the commencement of a westerly wind
the water flows out of the bay ; but afterwards, when the wind increases, the
water in the bay begins to rise.
The water level varies during the year from 2 to 3^ feet; the water being
lowest in December and January, and highest in June and July.
Opposite the place of anchorage, that is to say on the south-eastern shore
* See note above.