'Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars' [‎58] (89/466)

58
Points favourable for such camps are Sabla, where there is a ruined palace
Cam g built by the founder of the Ka^b family, Ahwaz, Shustar
and DizMl, especially Ahwaz, which is said to be cooler
than Shustar all the year round. The temperature of the Karun is in summer
20° lower than the Euphrates.
With reference to the healthiness and climate of Muhammerali see
Revised Gazetteer of Fersia.
Along the Shatt-al-Arab from Basra to Muhammerah cool weather is
experienced from November till April. The summer heat is great. The
most unhealthy season extends from June to October, when malignant fevers
are prevalent at Basra and the river villages. Towards the end of Marcli the
day shade temperature averages 7 0°; the nights are cold.
The alluvial deltas of all rivers are more or less unhealthy.
The annual rainfall of the coast plains is from 12. to 20 inches.
Eainfall during cultivation
Inches.
(November to April, both inclusive)
... 1877-78
... 15*41
}> •••
... 1878-79
... 5-16
» "
... 1879-80
... 6-34
f9 ii •••
... 1880-81
... 19 , 88 :
J» 5>
... 1881-82
... 9-57
JJ »
... 1882-83
... 1401
JJ ...
... 1883-84
... 21-46
In 1B83-84, the autumn and winter rainfall was unusually heavy ; in 1883,
the fall in January was 4i-01/; February, March, 0-47"; April,
November, 2'54 // ; December, 8-97 ,/ ; and in 1884, the fall in January
was February, ) March 0 , 77 // ; April 1-93".
For healthiness and climate of Bushire and the Garmsir or coast plains,
see Revised Gazetteer of Persia, the tables below, and pages 61 to 68 and 31S.
Kinneir states that the climate of Khuzistan is healthy, and that of
Shiistar plain. Shustar is so remarkable for its salubrity as to be con
sidered a sanitarium. In summer the excessive heat
lasts from 9 a.m . till 9 p.m ., when the air is refreshed by a gentle breeze
from the north-west. The winters are mild and the springs temperate and
delightful. The ground is so rich that it is only ploughed a span in depth;
two crops are yielded in the year, and there is no fruit or grain known in
Persia that will not thrive in Khuzistan. The land is principally cultivated
by irrigation {see page 168).
Encamped near Muhammerah in the summer of 1850, Loftus found the
Mubammerah. locality anything but a healthy one ] continued sickness
pervaded the camps, and a general state of debility
ensued from the stomach refusing to retain food after a meal [see Precis of
Persian Campaign, 1856-57 ; Revised Gazetteer of Persia),
The heat, he found, was intense, day and night, in June, rising to 1£4 0 F'
in the shade. The heat was of a moist and trying nature. Mosquitoes were
most virulent.
At Ahwaz the saliferous alluvium of the lower plains is quitted, their
Geology. place being taken by tertiary gravels and sandstones.
lamarisk, which grows plentifully along the Karun to
its south, now becomes scarce, and the Kuhnar bush more abundant
pug? 194 and Appendix C, Geology),