'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎182v] (369/416)

4
314
No. 61.
Shustar to Shiraz, vid Ahwaz and Behbahan.
Authority.—VI ells, December 1881; Jones, Schindler, McGowan,
February 1895.
No. of
stage.
Names of stages.
Distance, in
miles.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Remabks.
Band-i-Kib . 25 25 Direction S. The road goes over level ground.
300'. Near Shustar the few cultivated fields show what
could be done if this country were inhabited by an
industrious people. The alluvial plain would be
impassable after rain, the soil is so deep and clayey. Here and there are large patches of
jungle. Band>i-Kir is on the point of land dividing the Kaisar Band or Gargar stream,
which is diverted from the Karun above the castle at Shustar, and the Shatait or Karun
Proper. The Dizful river also falls in just opposite. Cross the first of these three, so as to get
on to the left bank of the combined river, on which bank Ahwaz stands. 1 his ferrying
may be avoided by leaving Shustar by the Pul-i-Belati, or east gate, and keeping along the
left bank of the Kaisar Band or Gargar stream ; but this would make it three days journey
to Ahwaz instead of two. Band-i-Kir has about 80 Arab inhabitants. Supplies plentiful.
27 52 The Gargar, 50 yards wide and very deep, has
first to be crossed by boat. The road thence is
level and good. It goes through the Arab village
of Wais (17 miles). Ahwaz is a miserable place
The climate is comparatively cool here. For further details of these
Ahwaz
220'.
with about 300 Arabs.
two stages, vide Route 55, stages 6—9.
Camp (E. of
Shakhe marsh)
27
4
Camp near
Bacha.
Mir
24
79 Across the trackless plain of Ram Hormuz, and
following for many miles the base of the sand
stone hills that trend away 8. E. The country
, , here is very fertile. No artificial irrigation is
required. The Arabs till the soil enough for their own wants, and no more. They are
notorious robbers. At the end of the march cross the large marsh of Shakhe. McGowan (in
February 1895) describes this as very swampy and bad. Camping-ground on the sand hills
to the east of it. lit
103 Direction E. The road is easy, but no longer
level. To the north and east the ground is undu
lating; the way (there is no track) soon meets the
Gopal river as it meanders slowly between mud
banks 18' in height. It has a taste of naphtha, and is the same brackish water that is found
in the marsh, which in fact is fed by it. On the banks of the stream are the “ Bowie tribes
summer grounds. There are signs of cultivation. The Gopal showed marks of flood 6 highei
than its normal level. It was 30' broad and 3' deep when crossed. McGowan (in February
1895) describes this river as 40 yards wide, and very deep, and rapid. _ Ihe road, tor a trac
has commenced, leads through marly and gypsum hills to a raised plain, and the head waters
of one of the branches of the Gopal is crossed. The way is along the plain to the village ot
Mir Bacha, which is situated on a “ teppe thence the plain slopes gent y down to Ram
Hormuz. We halt half way down. Samples of the naphtha from the well on the road to
Shustar shown on St. John’s map were examined, and prove to be excellent there is no
much of it they say, and the spring has been known to fail entirely after catching fire, ine
water here is slightly brackish. .
' ' 117 Direction E. by S. There is no road as we
are avoiding Ram Hormuz. We waded along
through flooded paddy fields, past a village,
named Pilip, to another named Rustamabad.
The people here are a colony of Kuhgelu Lurs, who have migrated hither from Behhahan.
Rustamabad
14
Camp near Jar-
zun.
19
136
Direction E. by S. Just outside Rustamabad
cross a stream, named the Shura—insignificant
except in flood time. The road, going slightly
south by east, enters the broad open valley of the