'Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars' [‎47] (76/466)

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The Jafrdhi orDordk river. —The river Jarralii, konwn to its junction
JarraLi with the Ab-i-Ramuz as the Kurdistan river^ rising
in the Kuhgehlu hills at Sadat, issues from them
through the narrow gorge of Tang-i-Tekab (Tang-i-Teka) {see pages SOI,
5(96*), and, running along the foot of the low hills, receives its waters from
numerous tributary streams flowing from them, viz., the Ab-i-llamuz, Ab-
i-Ali, Ab-i-Zard, &c. On the banks of its feeders are numerous ruins of
the Kayanian and Sasanian periods, i.e., at Sadat, Mai-Dawud, Abu-1-Abbas,
Manjanik.
Between Jaizoun and Behbahan it is fordable in several places. At
Chahar Asia its breadth from bank to bank is 70 yards ; its stream is in
December swift, 3' deep and 45 yards wide. Its left bank is here covered
with thick brushwood^ tamarisk, and oleander.
After receiving the Ab-i-Ram-Hormuz, the Jarrahi becomes a broad
and deep stream, not at any period of the year fordable, and runs between
steep and high mud-banks.
It is navigable for boats of 5 tons to within ] 2 miles of Ram-Hormuz.
The Ab-i-Ram-Hormuz or Alai river is forded near Ram-Hormuz with great
difficulty after rain.
Eight miles above Fellahiyah it divides into two branches—the Nahr Busi
entering the gulf near Bandar Ma^shur, the other branch, continuing its course
through the town, is eventually lost in irrigation, except a small artificial
channel, the Dorak canal, which runs 83° E. 274 miles from the Karun,
which it enters 10 miles above Muhammerah. It passes through a marshy
country, and can be traversed by boat in 15 hours. The river in its narrowest
part above its branches is 55 yards in width and frequently 100 yards.
Minor streams. —Having their sources in the Pusht-i-Kuh to the west of
the Karkhah are several streams which water the plains at their foot occupied
by wandering tribes of Arabs (Bani Lam Arabs). These either fall into the
Tigris or lose themselves in marshes. In this plain several sites of ancient
cities are to be found.
■^Khuzistan (Ahabistan) .
The boundaries of Khuzistan are roughly the Bakhtian hills, the river
Karkhah, a line drawn from Hawizah to Muhammerah, and thence by the
coast line to the Hindiyan river.
From a point above Muhammerah generally to the Hindiyan river,
to the north of Dilam, the inhabitants are of the Bani-
ernmei^ ltantS ^ g0V " Ka'b Arabs, under the jurisdiction of the Governor of
Arabistan, head-quarters Dizful. Under him are sub
ordinate governors at Muhammerah, Fellahiyah, and Deli Mula. The fron
tier village above Dilam is Shaikh-Abul-Shaikh or Shah-Abul-Shah.
The Government of Behbahan adjoins that of the Ka^b Arabs to the south
and west, and is under that of Ears, the head-quarters of which are at Shiraz
(see page 311),
The minor settlements to the southward of the Hindiyan to Bushire
embrace a series of petty tribes, both Persian and Arab, living in their
# The ancient Susiana, so-called from the name of its capital city Susa, and the still more
ancient Elam, originally peopled by Turanians and the descendants of Shem. It fell to Persia on
the downfall of the Assyrian Empire.