'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎181r] (366/706)

KIRMlNSHlH
m
electricity as motive power for electric railways, or by the making of locks
and bunds and using the rivers as canals, this route would be brought
into direct and cheap connection with the sea.
At the present time the Imperial Bank of Persia holds a concession for
the road from Tehran to Mohammerah, via Luristan, but it does not
appear to have any intention of moving in the matter.
In 1912 the Baghdad-Khaniqln route was still practically the only one
available for trade into and out of Kirmanshah from the south and west.
Negotiations for a railway from Mohammerah to Khurramabad, and
thence to Kirmanshah and Hamadan, were in progress in 1912. But the
railway is unlikely to be built beyond Dizffil for many years. The Bagh-
dad-Khaniqm-Kirmanshah-Tehran line will be built within about 6 vears
of the completion of the Baghdad railway.
In February 1911 a Russian subject started a carriage service twice
weekly from Kirmanshah to Khaniqin.
The rates of carriage per mule load from Kirmanshah to Baghdad is
equal to Rs. 6 to 8 , and from Baghdad to Kirmanshah Rs. 8 to Rs. 12.
Ihe standard weight of a mule load is 4 Indian maunds. Other rates are
From Kirmanshah to Tehran .. .. .. .. 12 to 16
99 99 99 , * # # ^ # only,
99 99 99 Isfahan .. .. •. # .. 12
Mules are procurable at all times of the year, and as many as from 200
to 400 can be got here at any time, and if previous notice be given
500 to 1,000 can be secured. The monthly rate of hire is from Rs. 25 to
Rs. 30.
For Posts and Telegraphs see under Kirmanshah (Town), administra
tion.
For “Administration” see article on ‘ Kirmanshah (Town)’.
(Authorities—Bell ; Mann ; Preece, 1899 ; Curzon ; Cegari, 1904 ; Rabino
1907.) For further details see Rabino’s “ Gazetteer of Kirmanshah ”, from
which most of the above article was extracted.
KIRMANSHAH or more correctly Kirmanshahan (Town).— Lat 34 ° 17' n" •
Fong. 47° 13' 0"; Elev. 5,140'.
History. ^
Kirmanshah was built by Bahram (Varahran) IV, son of Shahpur Zulak-
taf, who under the reign of his father conquered Kirman and governed
under the name of Kirmanshah, i.e., King of Kirman. He is known to the
SS^to^O^A 6 !) 1 ' 116 name ^ and rei g ned over Persia from
Gobad (491-532 A. D.), son of Pirus rebuilt the town, which was after
wards beautified by his son Khusrau Nushirvan (532-579 A D ) and
his grandson Khusrau Parviz (590-628 A.D.). Khusrau Nushirvan is
supposed to have built here a palace where he received, in the audience
hall, the homages of the Emperor of Rome, the Ruler of China and of the
Khan of the Tartars.
There are no ruins_ to be seen, and in all probability the town was for
merly quite near Taq-i-Bustan, where large mud embankments are still
ta be seen. A few mounds or tumuli are also to be found here, and the