The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-03-21
BUsmIRE.


now in the possession of the British, and
which is to be made the point d'appui for
their operations against Persia, is classical
ground. 1t is the most interesting, in an
historical and antiquarian sense, of any place
IN the country, and was formerly the chief
place along the coast of the Persian Gulf
the fort of~Bushire, or Rushir, was said to
have been built by or was called the Fort
OF Nebuchadnezzar." The Persian Gulf,
from the earliest times. has always been the
great route of communication between India
and Europe, and from time immemorial this
has been the most important seaport. Its
proper name is "Abu- shehr," or "father of
cities" 1t has population variously esti-
mated at from 10000 to 10000. mostly Per-
slams, Arabs and Armenians. Ships of three
hundred tuns and upwards are obliged to lie
in roadstead six miles from the city. 1t has
however, a large trade with British India,
importing thence rice, indigo, sugar, En-
glsh cotton goods and other manufactures,
spices &c. The principal exports are raw
silk, Kirman wool, shawls, horses Ito India,
for cavalry service), carpets, silk goods,
Shiras wine, &c. The East India Company
has depot at Bushire. and resident who
snperintends all its affairs on the Persian
Gulf.
At the last accounts from India the Brit
ish forces had moved upon Shraz. This is
an important city in the interior, and wa.
formerly the capital of Persia. 1t is situated
in valley which is famous for its garden.
and fertility, and is 1900 feet above the sea
1t is distant one hundred and fifteen mile.
E. n. E. of Bushire, and has population
various!y estimated at from 10000 to 40,
600. Thlraz is enclosed by Fashioned wall
} which are nearly four miles in circum:er
ence, and are entered by six gates, flanket
with towers. This will probably offer bu
slight obstacles to modern artillery. Abou
half a mile outside of the walls is the tomt
Of the renowned Persian poet, Ha6z, wht
was native of Shariz, and near it are thu
stream of Rocknabad. the bower of Mosella
celebrated in the verses of that author, and
the famed garden of Jehan Name, to which,
and to other garden, in the vicinity the in
habtants resorts for recreation. Shiraz ha
manufactures Of silk and WOODEN stuffs, swort
blades, soap and earthernwares. and a wine
that has high reputation throughout In
da.
1t has been asserted that on account of tn,
Typographical features Of the country III.
British could not carry on their operation:
in the interior of Persia, but that the,
would have to content themsevs with occu
pyng Bushire. This seems to be contra.
dicfed by the advance movement of the Brit
ish troops from Bushire. Col. Sir Henry
RawlInsor:. in paper which was read be-
fore the Royal Geographical Society on the
9Th u't, expressed the following opinions:
THE coasts of the Persian Gulf contain
belt of low land throughout. with noun.
'ains at short distance. varying from ten tu
thirty miles. At Bu>hire it is about twenty
five miles. Having been good deal in Per.
s'a. he was satisfied that they might take
guns anywhere, so long as they were not op
posed; by putting regiment on to a CUR
they might take it on through the passes
but the roads in Persia he knew were ex
trrmely bad At the same time, be should
say that It was quite impossible to force the
passes alluded to by Gen. Monteith in the
face ofan enemy. Should Government be
determined to act with effect on Persia, quite
another route must be taken. The army
must. in fact. land higher up the Gulf, a,
Nl"hammerah, and proceed 10 Shuster. 81,
Henry RawIinson then gave a general des
criPtion of the passes and of the water-line
along the coast ; and with regard to the in
habi'ants, confirming the statement of Gen
Monteith, that the native tribes in the noun
tains are amcaby disposed towards this coun
try and were anxious to enter into friendl,
relations with US. Some of those tribes
could brin. force Of 1000 or 5000 men int
the field"
Mr., Layard, the we'll known explorer Of
Nlneveh quite agreed that, if the war upo,
which the British government was now en-
gagged was to be continued, the seat of oper
ations. or rather the position which the arm,
must hold, must be transferred from Busbir
to the upper COMMUNICATION Journal.
BABYLON Petrus VaIensis, an Italia