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'Notes on Tours in Persia in 1881: the natural obstruction to the Navigation to the Karoon River at Ahwaz as seen 1st December 1881' [‎133r] (1/4)

The record is made up of 2 folios. It was created in 1 Dec 1881. It was written in English. 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. .

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Notes on Tours in Persia in 1881 .
The natural Obstruction to the Navigation to the Karoon River at Ahwaz,
as seen 1st December 1881.
1. It will be seen by sketch forwarded with this, that as the Karoon
approaches Ahwaz its course is divided into two parts by an island, marked I. 1
on plan Ao. 4. The branch to the west carries about one third of the
stream, whilst that to the east has the other two thirds; the latter is deep
and navigable for boats or flats of from 4 feet to 4 feet 6 inches draught, and
this is the case with the river up stream as far as Bend-i-kir.
2. At Bend-i-kir is the junction of three streams, viz., the Dizful River on
the west, the Karoon from Shuster alias Shtait in the centre, and Gerber or
the stream diverted from the Karoon above Shuster (and regulated Tdv the
Kaiser Bend) on the east; these three combined are 200 yards wide at their
confluence.
3. The Dizful River, as seen 10 miles below the town of Dizful, is a rapid
stream with a variable course over stony pebble bed, and quite unnavigable.
At Bend-i-kir it is about 70 yards wide.
4. The Karoon just below Shuster is not navigable, and this is said to be
the case with it the whole way upw r ards from Bend-i-kir, where it is
80 yards wide.
5. The “ Kaiser Bend ” or Gerger Stream is 50 yards w r ide at Bend-i-kir,
where it joins the Karoon, and is over six feet, and probably 10 feet in depth.
It is said to be navigable for large boats close up to Shuster. It has a slow
placid stream, which is the case of the combined river below Bend-i-kir,
though its banks showed in December marks of floods six feet above the then
level of the river.
6. The combined river at Weis, half way between Bend-i-kir and Ahwaz,
measured 283 yards in width. The banks of alluvial silt are throughout
20 feet above the water, and admirably adapted for towing gangs who would
tow craft by means of ropes attached* to their masts, as is done in Bengal
when the rivers are low.
7. To return to Ahwaz. Below the island mentioned in para. 1 the river
only unites in a stream to be immediately confronted by the obstruction,
which 1 will now describe in detail.
8. A ridge of sandstone which emerges from the Ram Hormuz Plain,
som£ 20 miles west by south of Ahwaz, here approaches the river, and
apparently it is greatly due to this ridge of rock that the river presents the
navigable aspect it does for so many miles above Ahwaz. The rocks form a
complete weir across the stream, which, flowing as best it can over the
numerous outcrops, falls at least six feet in three fourths of a mile of its
course. Were it not for this weir it is doubtful if the nature of the river
would not be entirely different.
9. The sandstone so plainly visible in the river bed never rises above the
level of the country to^iie east by north.
10. The weir or series of weirs at Ahwaz comprise five principal outcrops
of sandstone, with a dip to the north of 15°, the outcrop being south, and the
strike, as already stated, from west by south to east by north.
11. No. 1 group is perhaps the most formidable; appearing 25 yards below
the island, it narrows the river to 300 yards in width, presenting a double
ridge of rock, over which the water roars in times of flood. There are, how-
7652. I. 2720.

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Content

The memorandum consists of notes and observations on the navigability of the Karoon [Kārūn] river supplied by Captain H Wells, Royal Engineers, with a particular focus on Ahwaz [Ahvāz]. It also supplies a few suggestions for possible improvements.

Extent and format
2 folios
Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at f 133, and terminates at f 134, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, 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 item also contains an original pagination sequence.

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English in Latin script
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'Notes on Tours in Persia in 1881: the natural obstruction to the Navigation to the Karoon River at Ahwaz as seen 1st December 1881' [‎133r] (1/4), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/C34, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100025645035.0x000002> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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