'Military Report on South-West Persia, Including the Provinces of Khuzistan (Arabistan), Luristan, and Part of Fars' [‎184] (183/466)

traffic became very great. However, there is enough good ground about
Shustar to be developed without irrigating that below the band for many a year."
With reference to Captain Well's report, it should be noted that the high
ground on which Ahwaz stands is elevated from 10'
Canal project. to 15'above the country to its eastward, and runs
from the point B on plan, round the village and mosque, to rapid No. 3,
above the ancient tunnel through the rock. To the eastward of the tunnel
runs a low ridge of sandstone. In excavating the^ canal proposed, the deepest
cutting required is to the south of point B, and it is judged that to construct
it, so that it shall have a 10' depth throughout, below points A and B, the
average cutting would not exceed 20' in depth (cutting below B 25 ).
It is difficult to estimate the amount of sandstone that would be met with
in its excavation; in places it seemed to have a considerable covering of sand
and clay, and that these alternated with it in layers.
To the eastward of Captain Well's proposed line of canal, not a difficult or
costly project, lies, abreast of Ahwaz, a gently undulating and open fertile
plain, slopes of 2° and 3°; and below the low sandstone ridge, abreast of No. 3
rapid, a level plain of sand and clay covered with loose stones. Without doubt
a canal about lOO' wide did at one time exist to the eastward of Ahwaz, and
perhaps connecting the river below the rapids, near the point A, with the river
some distance above the point B; for by the indentation of the ground, the
luxuriance of the crops grown in it, &c., its line can be clearly traced, and
where it cut through the ridge of sandstone, abreast of No. 1 falls, there
is still the remains of a bridge of two arches. The low ground between the
ruined bridge and the river to the north-westward, no doubt taken advantage
of or caused by the canal, enables the lower northern slopes of the hills to be
seen from the opposite bank of the river. This line of old canal is marked
6 C 3 on plan.
If -x-right in the above conjecture, it might prove less expensive to re-open
this old line of canal to excavating a new one ; its line on the accompanying
plain shows it to lie a few hundred yards to the eastward of the Ahwaz ridge,
Again, it would seem that the tunnel, or rather cut, through the rock near
No. 8 rapid was in some way connected with a canal either for navigation or
irrigation.
Rapid No. 5 is no formidable obstacle, and in March, when the river was
moderately full, was scarcely perceptible. A cheap and feasible project would
therefore seem to be to run the canal from B, under the high ground on which
the village stands, by the cut through the rock south of obstacle No. to
a point C, below rapid No. 4, cutting an in-shore channel round No. o
rapid. This diversion from Captain WelFs line is marked f A ' on plan. This
channel would in no way affect the river up-stream. The lock at C would
be well protected, and the length of canal be but 1,600 yards, with an average
depth of cutting estimated at 20 feet, by no means altogether through rock.
To cheaply avoid transhipment is far preferable to a tramway, or the use o
transport animals.
With reference to the defence of Ahwaz should be noted :—
I.—The mounds, uneven ground, and ponds about Kut-Abdiila.
II.—The limestone ridge abreast of the fort.
Defeilce * III.—The fort.
# Major Bell was unable to examine the ground as closely as he desired. The prince was ^
camped, with an escort of cavalry, artillery, and infantry, on the high ground extending i r0
village to No. 3 rapids; and to stroll about the camp was not admissible {see 'page 4).