'Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars' [‎80] (115/466)

80
be imagined tliat a place of this description would be soon converted into
a lake or marsh,' unless an outlet were formed for the water, which in winter
and spring descends in torrents from the surrounding mountains.
There" is a tradition that Shimbar was in fact a lake, and that Filomars
aware of the security of this position and of the richness of the land
determined to cut through the mountain and drain the plain. The channe!
was accordingly commenced at the southern extreme angle, where the moun
tains suddenly subside, and are comparatively low. It is sometimes carried
completely through the hill, and sometimes forms a subterraneous passage
about 20 feet in height, and almost the same in breadth, and one quarter of
mile in length. The Lurs call the place the Pul-i-Nigm (the bridge of tbe
ring), and have many traditions relating to it.
To the north of Pul-i-Nigm, but on the western side of the plain, is a
gorge called Tang-i-Butan, of Idols^ Gorge. The idols are twelve figures in a
large tablet and one in a smaller tablet, all of the Sasanian epoch. They are
situated almost at the summit of a lofty mountain, and are most difficult to
reach.
The plain of Shimbar is of a rich alluvial deposit. The thicket there is at
present (1846) so dense that it is difficult to pass through it. It is the abode
of numerous bears and boars, and abounds with pomegranates, fig trees, and
vines. The tendrils of the latter entwine round lofty trees, and during a
certain season of the year the Iliyats collect a large supply of fruit. Tlie
Lurs pretend that these trees grew in a garden belonging to a city built in
the plain; and as they are not found wild in the mountains, there may be some
truth in the tradition.
Remains of foundations and buildings are visible in several parts of the
plain. They appear to be Susanian. The Lurs state that there is a lon^
inscription near the Pul-i-Nigin. To the north of Shimbar is Lalar Kotek,
a lofty mountain, where there is a village, near which a sculpture was
found about two years ago. To the north-east of Lalar is Chilian. To the
north and east of Chilian is the lofty and precipitous mountain of Keinu,
from whence you descend into Bazuft, a well wooded plain, abounding"
in the ruins of Sasanian villages. Bazuft is divided
Maman-i-Bazuit. from the o£ Chahar-Mahal and Isfahan by
the Zarda-Kuh and Kuh-i-Rang, in which are the sources of the Karun (see
Appendix A, and pages 260, 279, 280),
Returning to the place where the Karun issues from the mountains into
„ , .. ^ , the plains, we find to the north the celebrated Diz of
or fe e o le amu. Mendizan (Mian-Dizan), behind which rises the lofty
peak of Salenj and the peaks of Dara-Zard and Sagniyan. Between them
and the plain is the hilly district of Sar-Dasht {see page 260).
Where the Karun emerges into the Shustar plain, it is 100 yards broad
and un ford able. It is also unfordable at the point at which it' enters the
Akili plain [see page 71), and even to its source.
The country, which, as a rule, is peculiarly barren of trees and brushwood
Timber, &c. 130r ^» north-east, and north-west of. the.lA
and generally within the hills themselves, as well as to
the south and west of them, becomes gradually more and more wooded to the
south of Ardal on the line of Hilisat, where oak, ash, planes, elms, popla^
willows, hawthorn, and wild almond grow plentifully ; the timber, as a rule,
is of no size; charcoal is burnt and transported for sale to the Chahar
Mahal and Isfahan. No trees are planted and the flocks (»