File:The Persian problem; an examination of the rival positions of Russia and Great Britain in Persia, with some account of the Persian gulf and the Bagdad railway (1903) (14577297497).jpg

Identifier: persianprobleme00whig (find matches)
Title: The Persian problem; an examination of the rival positions of Russia and Great Britain in Persia, with some account of the Persian gulf and the Bagdad railway
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Whigham, Henry James, 1869-
Subjects: Baghdad Railway Eastern question (Central Asia)
Publisher: London Isbister
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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pportable at a height of 4000to 5000 ft. This ready-made hill station could bebrought within a few hours of Bunder Abbas, byrail, and would go very far to mitigate the pains ofthe Persian Gulf summer. Colonel Pelly, who long ago saw the necessity ofcreating a naval station and trade emporium in theGulf, suggested for the twin purpose the village ofKhasab, which lies in a well-sheltered cove justoutside the mouth of the Elphinstone Inlet, andbeing gifted by Nature with fresh water—a rarecommodity in the Gulf—is distinguished under thedark cliffs by a grove of palms and a little vegeta-tion. But though the climate would be a little lesstorrid than that of the Elphinstone Inlet itself, theheat, even of the January day, when we steamedpast Khasab, was sufficient to make one pausebefore recommending the place as a desirable navalor mercantile base: As we were returning from the far end of theinlet we were surprised to find the quiet watersalive with antiquated fishing craft, from which
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STREET SCENE IN AN ARAB TOWN VISIT TO THE PIRATE COAST 81 almost naked men shouted to us in some outlandishjargon, waving at the same time their poor waresof dead fish to attract the foreigners attention.Being in mid-channel with seventeen fathoms underour keel it was impossible to stop and interviewthem, though it was all we could do to keep thepaddle-wheels of the Lawrence free from the poorcreatures boats. We were left, therefore, to takeit for granted that these were Colonel Pellys singular race of men, driven by stronger growthsof humanity into this remotest corner, who arealso mentioned by Lord Curzon and called by himShihiyins. Leaving them to their undisputed possession ofthis weird harbour, it was our pleasant duty toproceed along the Arabian coast of the Gulf and tovisit the Sheikhs of the pearling villages, who arecalled the Trucial Chiefs because they are bound,originally by an annual truce, and now by a per-petual treaty, not to indulge in any hostilities bysea. Every yea

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