'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎183r] (370/416)

if
315
No. 61.
Shustar to Shiraz, via AkroaZy and Behbahan.
No. of
stage.
Distance, in
milbs.
Naires of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Rbmabks.
Kurdistan (Jarahi) river, bounded on the south by a low range of hills, not shown on St.
John’s map, and on the north by a lofty range. We are marching upstream and 2 miles
parallel to and north of it, so have to cross the deep cut courses of many mountain torrents.
Their sides could be ramped for the passage of vehicles. Six and a quarter miles (two
farsahhs) from Rustamabad is Sultanabad, a small village with a few date palms and some
bean cultivation. The valley is here about miles broad, and the river only 1| miles to
south. A few miles further on the road comes right to its bank. There are large quanti
ties of Icanar trees in the plain, and aspens along the river side. This would be a fertile
spot if it had a settled population. After passing the fourth torrent at right angles to the
road, we come on some cultivated ground, and halt.
Deh Kobaiseh
25
161
Direction E. About 4 miles east of Jaizun
the valley narrows considerably, and the road,
no longer able to follow the river, strikes across
the spur from the mountains, which spur here
closes the valley. The road, though rough, could easily be knocked into shape, having no
steep gradients, and the rocks mostly being conglomerate. From the north-east side of the
spur a fine view of the Behbahau plain is gained. The town is in the middle distance, with
a fine range of mountains to the north, with their snowy caps bounding the view in that
direction. A low range of hills to the south divides the plains of Behbahan from that
which runs down to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and turns the river Jarahi west into the valley, up
which we have been travelling. On the left the road from Potek is seen, with the plain on
that side a deep green from Icanar clumps. St. John’s map shows the Potek road as joining
at Kai-Kaus; but this is incorrect. There is no such place on the Ram Hormuz road.
Deh Koraiseh has only about 15 inhabitants.
8
Behbahan
1,300'.
11 172
Direction E. A stream from the direction
of north has first to be crossed, and 3 miles
from camp the river Jarahi itself forms a for
midable obstacle. From bank to bank it is 70
yards wide, and in flood would be at least 6 feet deep; it is a rapid stream, and even when
only 45 yards wide is only fordable by strong men, being up to the horses’ girths. In
spring it would be a nasty flood to pass. Fine cover of tamarisk and oleander marks its
course, whilst beyond palm groves, villages and cultivated ground present an unwonted sceno
of prosperity and security for this part of Persia. The rest of the road easy and level.
The town has practically no walls; the population is between four and five thousand;
it seems thinly peopled and tumbledown, yet delightfully clean compared with Dizful and
Shustar. The water-supply is poor. Water has to be stored in abambars or subterranean
chambers for summer use. There is a regiment of infantry and a few guns here.
McGowan made the marches from Mir Bacha as follows:—
Hormuz, 2, farsakhs, Sultanabad, 4 farsakhs, Jaizun, 4 farsakhs, Koraiseh, 7 farsakhs,
Behbahan, 2\ farsakhs.
9 Khaieabad river
15
187
Direction E. Road goes east across the plain
of Behbahan and into the low hills that divide the
basin of the Khairabad river from that of the
Jarahi. Camp near the river, which is 30 yards
wide and easily fordable, though in spring it would be a formidable obstacle, being rapid
with a stony bed. The road is easy with a slight ascent. McGowan reports the river (in
April 1895) as deep with strong current, and only fordable under guidance of experts, and
states that, during the rainy season, it would be unfordable. There is a good bridge a little
below the ford, one or two of the centre arches of which are broken down. It could, however.
Direction S. E. The road commences well—
gradually ascends to the plain of Lishtar, 4 miles
wide by 10 miles long—a grand pasture. Even
at this season there is grass, and the evergreen
be restored at a very small
outlay.
10
Do-Gumbazan .
27f
214|
2,730'