مخطوطة لكتاب "بلاد فارس والشأن الفارسي" (تابع) [ظ‎‎٤‎٩] (٦٩٠/٩٨)

—«c
ii
—r
VW - ^
0
$1
and in process of time cut for themselves their present narrow and
sinuous tia'-k, which has only to be followed down to llund-i-Kir to
show that it cannot at any time have been artificially cut by man.
Such is the explanation which I offer of the hydraulic and
engineering works of Shuster. They may be summed up in the
following propositions:—Valerian’s bunl was built (the br dge being
raised upon it so as to admit of communication with the opposite
bank, and particularly with Dizful) in order to hold up the waters
of the J^arun for irj igation purposes^ The Mina^ Canal was cut in
order to convey the waters thus dammed to the lands behind the
to .vns, which were otherwise wholly without water siij ply. The
g^r Canal was cut, not for independent purposes of irrigation, but
simply in order to facilitate the above operations, and to carry off
the surplus w r aters of the main riveiCV In fact, a utilitarian purpose
was behind each of these great undertakings, which, at a distance of
sixteen hundred }ears, survive to demonstrate the public spirit and
the spacious conception of their illustrious founder.
Upon arriving at Shuster—which, thanks to my just appreciation
both of the steam-power of the Sum and of the mendacity of her
engineer, I succeeded in doing about nine hours in advance of the
passengers by the canal — I forwarded my credentials to the
Governor, and intimated my desire to pay an early call. The cus
tomary civilities passed in the interim, consisting of presents of
cakes, fruit, and sweetmeats from the Nizam, and tips of correspond
ing or superior value to his servants from myself. In the afternoon
I rode to the citadel at the hour fixed for the interview. This
building, to which are annexed barracks and an arsenal, is situated
on the summit and extremity of the rock, where it rises with a pre
cipitous face of over one hundred feet from the river-bed. Nature
has designated this locality as the obvious site for a citadel, and from
the days of Shapur downwards, it has been occupied by a kaleh, or
fort, which at tj^e time of the Arab conquest was known by the
name of SelasilV^The present edifice is a modern structure, contain
ing no remains of the ancient castle, while it has been further
altered and modernised by the reigning Governor, who fias rebuilt
the habitable portion in the shape of a lofty two-stor**yed tow r er,
from whose summit a magnificent panorama is enjoyed of the river
^cenery and town. The entire space occupied by the buildings is said
Consequently I reject the theory of Loftun, for which I do not see any. foundation,
that the Bund-i-Mizau was constructed, partly so as to provide a foundation for the
bridge, partly to accumulate a she et of water before the castle for the delectation of its
occupant. £, &
[T) The irrigation theory, and the recent date of the contraction of the G^rg^r, which
have both been verged, are negatived by the fact mentioned by Layard, that “ the ex
cavations at Shuster, and particularly the steps leading from the town to the bed of the
cajial,^which are evidently very ancient, are carried to the present level of the Ab-i- .
)/. l vol. Xvi., P. IjO.l O'* £ ' VTV
Girg^.
{Journal of the Ji*
A
4
A
4
Em
tZac A-
K -
Ur-
S
^ (r-t 0 ">L_ < r>v'v
<TV ^ -tccrz£ f-
Ct-^ric
cK-t/y-o
&
'U ^ ^ V U