![‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [‎29r] (57/130)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000884.0x0001c8/IOR_L_PS_20_C242_0058.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [‎29r] (57/130)")
‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [29r] (57/130)
The record is made up of 1 volume (65 folios). It was created in 1903. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
47
Appendix IV.
Heport hy Captain Wells.
Comparison o£ routes from Ispahan to the Sea.
The ordinary route from Ispahan to the sea now followed by kafilas is via Shiraz to
Bushiije. Along this route caravanserais are built at convenient distances, and supplies are
forthcoming.
From Ispahan to Shiraz there is little or no engineerino* difficulty, and with a small (com
paratively) expenditure of capital a good carriage road could be made.
Distance from Ispahan to Shiraz 323 miles.
Beyond Shiraz the road is in places execrable and scarcely passable for laden mules, but
is capable of vast improvements and a carriage road could follow its general direction.
The distance from Shiraz to Bushire is 196 miles.
Along the Bakhtyari route via Ardall and Malimir, there are no caravanserais of any sort,
no bridges over several of tha rivers, and in winter, when the nomad population moves bodily
to the Shuster plains, there would be no supplies.
However, supposing the Karun river were opened for navigation to Shuster, and the
necessary canal dug out at Ahwaz, goods could be unshipped within 275 miles ol : Ispahan, that
is, 244 miles nearer than via Bushire, for Bushire to Ispahan is 519 miles, still the difficulties
to be met within these 275 miles are very great. It has been suggested that a light railway
might run over them, but this is in my opinion out of the question, as the cost of the under
taking would be enormous. The valley of the Karun and its tributaries having such precipi
tous sides that it would often be necessary to carry the road in galleries cut in the hill sides
for miles, the bridging too would be tremendous, and if the line were carried out at right
angles to the series ol ridges that lie between tha plateau of Chahar Mahal and Malimir,
the line would be little better than an alternation of tunnels and viaducts. I think the railway
engineer would prefer to take his line from Shuster via Hehbehan to the Ardakhan valley j he
would find no stupendous obstacles this way, and would have warmed himself to the roof of
Central Persia, without crossing one of the dd^es that jjuard it. He would tap, too, its most
fertile plains and include Shiraz. The 7,2^0 feet Kotul that lies between Ardakhan and
Shiraz has no difficulties or gradients that a " FairlieV engine, such as is used between Poti
and Tiflis, would not negotiate. Or I should recommend the trial of the valley of the
Shahpur river from Bushire to Nodun, where a tunnel would lead through to the river Shur
of Fabalynn, which runs from Ardakhan.
But to return to roads. The difficulties of the Bakhtyari route are considered so great at
Dizful that all kafilas for Ispahan go via Burujird, and it might be best to take them from
Shuster via Dizful and Burujird to Ispahan, though the distance this way must be at least 350
miles from Shuster, probably 380. Unfoitunately I have not seen this route, so cannot speak
of its merits ; however, water is said to be plentiful and the road not bad.
Certainly this is the case from Burujird to Ispahan.
The difficulties of the Shiraz-Bushire road are all within a distance of 93 miles^ m., from
Daliki to the Karagatch river.
Those of the Bakhtyari route are within the distance o' 117 miles from the plain of
Malimir to the borders oE Chahar Mahal.
1. The Shiraz road is certainly Tillainous from Daliki to the Cona Takta plain, a
distance of 11 miles.
2. Again, the Kamaridge Kotul is abominable^ 6 miles.
3. To avoid the Karagatch, heavy work would be required for 4 miles.
4. To avoid the Kotul Dukhter and curve, a road out of the hill-side to the south
of it, 5 miles.
5. To turn the Kotul Pirizan and make a carriage road to Dasht-i-Arjan, 12
miles.
To turn the Sena Safid Kotui, 6 miles.
Total 44 miles.
These 4.4 miles allow for gradients and comprise all the heavy works. I think the five
miles for the Kotul Dukhter might be saved by entering the Dust-i-Bar from the Shahpw
valley, but of this I am not positive.
The Bakhtyari route is, in my opinion, out of the question for wheel traffic.
About this item
- Content
The volume, stamped ‘Secret’ on the front cover and frontispiece, is part 1 (historical and political materials) of a précis of Persian Arabistan affairs. It was prepared by Judge Jerome Antony Saldanha of the Bombay Provincial Civil Service, and published in 1903 by the Government of India Foreign Department, Simla, India.
The contents of the volume run as follows:
Chapter 1, entitled Internal affairs, 1876-1904 , including: early history of the region, up until 1873; early history of the Kaab tribe; murder of Shaikh Lufti, Kaab chief; death of Haji Jabir Khan, Governor of Mohammerah [Khorramshahr], and Shaikh Mizal’s succession; local chiefs and governors between 1878 and 1883; Govenor-Generals of Arabistan; trouble in the Kaab districts, and release of Shaikh Mizal’s brother Mahomed; disturbances in Arabistan and Persian intrigues, 1888; narrative of events, 1891-97; murder of Shaikh Mizal [Maz’al bin Jabir bin Merdaw al-Ka’bi] and succession of his brother, Shaikh Khazal [Khaz’al bin Jabir bin Merdaw al-Ka’bi], 1897.
2. Karun river [Rūd-e Kārūn] navigation and irrigation schemes, 1871-79 , including a history of the navigation and irrigation schemes, 1871-77; proposed railways from Rehst [Rasht] to Teheran, and from Teheran to the Karan river; question of navigation of the Karun, 1878-79.
3. Karun river navigation and irrigation schemes, 1881-83 , including: an historical overview; navigability; trade routes; general remarks. Four appendices follow chapter 3: A) Reports by Colonel Edward Ross, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , on the Karun river navigation; reports by Captain Henry Wells on the Ahwaz canal; memoranda on the Karun river by Sir Henry Rawlinson; a report comparing routes from Ispahan [Eşfahān] to the sea, by Captain Wells; and Felix Vauvillier’s scheme for establishing water communication between Kermanshah [Khorramshahr] and Dizful [Dezfūl] (in French).
4. Opening of the Karun to navigation of all nations, 1888-89 .
5. Obstacles in the way of the British enterprise on the Karan river , including: the erection of warehouses and business premises on the banks of the river; misunderstanding over tonnage dues and certification; charges against Mr John Gaskin over irregular conduct and his employment of private servants; navigation of the Upper Karun; rival enterprises and intrigues of the Shaikh of Mohammerah; embargo on grain; fanatical outbreaks of local tribes and Persian soldiers against British interest.
6 . Karun river subsidy, 1890-1900.
7. Appointment of consular officers in Arabistan , including: the appointment of Mr William McDouall as Vice-Consul for Mohammerah, 1890; the appointment of Major Edmund Boteler Burton to act for McDouall; the appointment of Lieutenant David Lorimer as Vice-Consul for Arabistan; the appointment of a consular surgeon for Arabistan; headquarters and accommodation for the Vice-Consul and Consular Surgeon at Arabistan; attack on Lieutenant Lorimer and Colonel Douglas.
8. Construction of roads in aid of the Karun river trade.
9. Desire of Shaikh Khazal to place himself under British protection: interference of Belgian customs administration in Mohammerah Customs and British intervention, 1898-1904 , including Shaikh Khazal seeks British protection, 1898-99; proposed establishment of Persian customs at Mohammerah and Shaikh Khazal’s appeal to the British 1900-04; presence of Belgian customs boats on the Shat el-Arab, 1904.
10. Attempted change in the system of collection of customs on the Karun river, 1902-03 .
11. Disturbed state of Arabistan: attacks on the Shushan [ Sūsa ] : measures for its protection .
12. Restoration of Ancient Elam: projected irrigation works in Arabistan, 1903-04 .
The appendix at the end of the volume is a memorandum on the Kaab tribe and Mohammerah, dated 6 January 1844, and written by Sir Henry Rawlinson, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. .
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (65 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged into twelve chapters (identified by Roman numerals), which are followed by an appendix. Between chapters 3 and 4 there are a further five appendices, relating specifically to the contents of chapter 3. Most chapters are divided up by subheadings, and all chapters (not appendices) have numbered paragraphs. The paragraph numbers are continuous throughout the whole volume, beginning on 1 at the start of the first chapter, and ending on 336 at the end of the twelfth chapter. A contents page at the front of the volume (f 5) lists the chapters by their headings and subheadings, with each referred to by their paragraph, rather than page, numbers. Appendices are also listed on the contents page.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence, with page numbers located top and centre of each page.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [29r] (57/130), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C242, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023528248.0x00003b> [accessed 13 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023528248.0x00003b
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023528248.0x00003b">‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’ [‎29r] (57/130)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023528248.0x00003b"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000884.0x0001c8/IOR_L_PS_20_C242_0058.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000884.0x0001c8/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/C242
- Title
- ‘Persian Gulf gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Précis of Persian Arabistan affairs.’
- Pages
- front, front-i, 2r:11r, 13r:17r, 18r:29v, 31r:38v, 39v:64v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence