"تقرير استخباراتي عن بلاد فارس. مايو، ١٩٤٦" [و‎‎٦] (٨٠/١١)

[Part V — continued']
(A) COAST
For 8 miles south of Khor Ziyarat a low sandy ridge, which is almost covered at low water, projects
considerably from the actual coast. The southern edge of this ridge forms Ras-al-Khan. Anchorage,
affording indifferent shelter from the shamal, may be obtained by small craft in a little bay southward
of the point, in depths of 2 to 2| fathoms.
There is a dry weather road which follows the coast line all the way from Bushire to Bandar
Abbas ; and crosses the river Mund, mentioned above, by a pontoon bridge. The road is in very poor
condition and is really little more than a track ; after the rains and spring floods it is difficult to follow
its course in many places.
To the east of Ras-al-Khan the mountains return to the sea (after the gap of the Mund valley)
and the coast trends south-east for 12 miles and then turns eastward for 17 miles to Daiyir where the
coastline cuts inland across the trend of the coastal mountains and approaches the main ranges.
Off the bend formed by this 30 mile stretch of coast, there is a number of small islets and sand
banks which should be given a wide berth unless one has a pilot with local knowledge. This area,
like numerous other parts of the Gulf, is reported to have changed since the last survey. The last
available details are to be found in the Persian Gulf Pilot, page 147.
About 12 miles east, towards Daiyir, the hills come right down to the sea and the coast consists
of low cliffs and sunken rocks. Nine miles to the westward of Daiyir is a small village called Batuneh,
off which there is an exposed anchorage. Seven miles further east there is a rocky point, which projects
from the coast (2| miles west of Daiyir), from here to the town, the coast is low with a sandy beach,
but divided by-a half-mile wide patch of coral reef, from the beach opposite Daiyir.
Daiyir is a small town, in the centre of which is a square fort with two towers, this is surrounded
with several trees. The Shaikh’s house, a white two-storeyed building with a small flagstaff, stands
near the fort.
A remarkable isolated rock of light grey colour, from 60 to 80 ft. in height, stands about 1 mile
westward of the town and about f-mile inland ; it has the appearance of a square tower and can be
identified at some distance. To the eastward of the town there is a large date grove. Excellent
anchorage, affording protection from the shamal, but exposed to the kaus, may be obtained off Daiyir,
in a depth of 4 fathoms, with the fort bearing 000°, distant half a mile ; large vessels should anchor
further out, in depths of from 8 to 10 fathoms, mud bottom. Landing is difficult unless the boat is
able to cross a reef which extends from 1 to 2 cables off shore abreast the town. At springs, the tidal
streams attain a rate of from 1 to 2 knots at the anchorage at Daiyir. From Daiyir the coast continues
east for about 6 miles to Kangan, and thence runs south-east along the foot of the most south-westerly
of the main mountain ranges for nearly 50 miles to Naband Bay. The mountains tower more than
4,800 ft. above the sea, their highest peak reaching 7,000 ft. The coastal plain is in places less than a
mile wide, and contains a number of small fishing villages and date groves.
Between Daiyir and Kangan the coast is low and sandy ; 7 miles to the east of Daiyir, and 2 miles
inland, lies the town of Bardistan ; this is situated near a creek which runs into the sea. In this village,
partly hidden by trees, is a tall bad-gir or wind tower. The creek becomes a watercourse during the
rains, and drains the valley behind.
Kangan, about 8 miles further east, now a small fishing village, was formerly a Portuguese trading
port. It stands on a sandy ridge ; there is a tower at its northern end and a large date grove is situated
about half a mile north-westward of it. Anchorage may be obtained in 5 fathoms f-mile off shore,
shelter is partially found from a north-westward blow (shamal), but it is exposed to the south-west
(kaus) wind.
Twenty-one miles south-east of Kangan lies Tahiri. This village is situated on the shores of a small
bay at the head of which the coastal hills rise to 700 ft. In the village there are two conspicuous white
mosques, \\ cables apart, also a large round tower with a white band round it and a flag staff. A
partially sheltered anchorage is to be found here with good holding ground, in 6 fathoms, close off
shore, with the western point of the bay bearing 284°. Tahiri is on the site of the mediaeval city of
Siraf, which was the chief emporium of eastern trade in the 9th and 10th centuries. The ruins extend
2 miles along the shore west of Tahiri and up the slopes of the limestone ridge between the mountains
and the sea. Precipitous ravines cross the mountains to fertile plains inland.
About 18 miles south-east of Tahiri, continuing along the low sandy shore, lies the village of
Asalu, where there is another open anchorage. Asalu is a small pearl fishing' village typical of this
coast [see (B) Ports).
From Asalu, the coastline enters Naband Bay, the southern arm of which forms Ras Naband,
which lies about 5 miles south-south-east of Asalu.
The head of the bay is shallow, with depths of 3 fathoms, mud, extending about 2 miles off shore.
Gabandi valley extends about 35 miles east-south-eastwards from the head of the bay, between
the coastal hills and the mountain range behind them. About 15 miles eastward of the head of the
bay there is a bluff, about 3,600 ft. high, which is conspicuous from the entrance to the bay.
The southern shorp is low and rocky, and behind it the coastal hills rise to a moderate height,
here the shore is low, sandy, and in places swampy.
The village of Naband stands on the southern shore about 2\ miles within the point; between
the village, which has the usual conspicuous square fort, and the point. There is a reef which extends
for about a cable from the shore, and affords shelter for small boats.
Ras Naband is faced with a rocky cliff about 10 ft. high, the western side being steep-to with
depths increasing to 30 fathoms 3 miles off shore.
The tidal streams in this vicinity are very weak.