'Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars' [‎197] (206/466)

Route No. 1— contd.
From Muhammerah to Tehran, fyc. —contd.
D istances iit
o
o
miles.
a -u
g &
tz;
Time.
Name's of towns, villages, &c.
Interme
diate.
Total.
•
A.M.
Isf Ajpril 1SS4.
7
8
Shustak
• • t
137
Leave Shustar by the bridge over the
Vb-i-Shateit, 15' wide and about 600yards
long ; paved with pebbles, and constructed
.j brick and stone ; the spans vary in width
from 15 to 20 , generally not over 15'. Below the Dridge the river falls 8' to 10'. (see sketch)
After an ascent of 300 yards at yV, the road rises by gentle gradient, over stony "round'
a poor grazing country, to a break in the hills of Fedelak leading to Ab-i-Bid and Gotwand ,
Eoad broad and good.
Eemarks.
8-55
)-15
By a steep narrow mule path (100 yards)
pass through the gap.
Descends into the rich plains of Akili
and Ab-i-Bid. Descent easy; averao-e
width of road now 12'; generally good ;
here and there are encountered steps in
, • , rm. i • ^ i conglomerate rock and narrow, rutty
places over soft clay. The plain of Akili is 40 miles long by 10 to 15 miles broad. The plain
undulates gently, and affords excellent grazing; it is covered with water-worn pebbles It
is treeless. About one mile beyond the river high hills rise (a conspicuous hill known as the
Hait-lanan bears 5 ); they ^eem to lie in three parallel ridges, one in rear of the other • the
most distant snow clad ; the intermediate range partially snow-topped; the near rano-e barren
and steep, similar to that skirting the left bank of the Karun, already described.
Through a cutting in clay, 7' wide, 600
yards long. The Bakhtiari country is
10-15
now entered
10-25
10-30
11-15
11-45
April, when the heat is described as excessive.
p.m.
1-45
(elevation
18
Wheat cultivation commences.
Road rutty and bad ; good crops, chiefly
barley, grow all around.
The village of Jella Khan, surrounded
by a few trees, one mile to the right.
Pass a camp of Bakhtiari Iliyats; good
glazing and cultivation. Many cows,
donkeys, and sheep grazing. These pas
tures are deserted towards the end of
Crosses several small canals and streams.
155 Ab-i-Bid consists of a very small village
and a high walled enclosure, the fort of
the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. of the Bakhtiaris, and his
•i , i, r i. i-ii winter residence. It lies about two
miles from the foot of the near range of hills. The fort or serai is of no strength.
^ General Remarks.—The road to Shdstar is, on the whole, a good mule track • here and
there rats occur,_ and there are several bad descents and ascents through clay into and out
bi: the beds ot rivulets, and a few over hard conglomerate rock.
„ in the shade at 4 p.m. 7 8° ; barometer 29-65"; the average day temperature
was 82 under canvas; nights, cool with a heavy dew. o ^ i u
An officer of cavalry with several troopers Vere en route to Isfahan, which place they
Road to Isfahan. hoped to reach in 15 days by paths to the north of the Kariin
. rrver * ^ ex P ec ^ e( i to be able to ride the whole distance
Ab-i-bid
600').