'Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars' [‎12] (39/466)

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The o-ardens of tlie Bala-Hisar are well stocked witli rose buslies, pome,
granate and fine cypress trees; on the highest points of the latter flamiugoes
Both days and nights are cool at this season of the year
JPciTt •
I was lead to expect to see considerable forests of oak during the pag,
sage of the Lur hills; the belt of the country producing
Oak forests. t | iem j s no t 50 miles broad ; the timber is poor, of small
size, and the trees anything but plentiful.
Every statement made by a Persian, whether prmce or peasant, must be
received with the utmost caution and never believed
Information. until verified; his mind is of that pretentious nature
that a stunted tree is magnified by it into a forest of noble oaks; a col
lection of mud hovels into a populous town; a few field guns into a park of
garrison artillery of the largest calibres, and a dozen horsemen into a regiment
of cavalry.
At Khoramabad the high plateau of mid-Persia is reached (4,000'—6,000')
and the dangers of the hill country cease. I was there
Plateau of mid-Persia, well received by Shahzada Sharuk Mirza, the Deputy
Wizir, acting for the governor of the district the Ikhmut-
i-Daulat, called to Tehran to answer for. the lawlessness just described. He
has since been deposed as Governor.
Hearing that a regiment of infantry was encamped on the plain to the
west of the town, I paid a visit to its colonel. He received me in the usual
Persian manner, serving tea, &c. The junior officers of the regiment came
in and sat round the tent, the floor of which was both
Infantry camp. boarded and carpeted ; there was no tent furniture; all
sleep on the ground and eat seated on the ground.
There were no sentries and no camp discipline seemed to be observed;
the soldiers crowded round about the tent door until ordered to move off.
The men^s tents resembled those seen at Ahwaz; those of the offieers , were
smaller; here, too, the " silver stick ^ appeared to be a most important cere
monial personage {see page 4),
Leaving Khoramabad on the 21st April, by the follow-
Klioramabad to Burn- • i. ij
- rd> mg stages Burujird was reached.
Zaghe (5,910') 22 miles.
f Yalley of the Ab-i-Dizfiil j
22nd April, Chulunchulah (4920') 23 miles j elev. 5,000'.
23rd April, Burujird (5,375') 18 miles | The river has to be forded,
(Jits bridge being in ruins.
63 miles.
Shahzada Sharuk Mirza furnished the party with a guide, and two sowars
of the Telegraph Department (Persian) attached themselves to it. The
guide's one object was • to graze his mare and her filly, and he soon left tlie
party to guide themselves.
There are no caravanserais along this road, and the party found quarters
in one or other of the dirty huts of the villages best suited for its acconunodft"
tion. The caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). outside the Burujird city walls being in ruins,
ters in one within the walls were occupied.