'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎34v] (73/982)

60
ARA-ARA
!, ridge finally crosses the Ab-i-Diz obliquely at Kut Bandar. The only
permanent risers are the Ab-i-Gargar and Shatait, branches of the Karun ;
t the Ab»i-Diz, with its tributaries ; and the Karkheh.
Climate. Rainfall .—Rain may occur any time at intervals between the end
of October and end of April, rarely in May, and never between that month
and October. There is seldom continuous rain except from the end of Novem
ber to end of January, when three days at a time may be expected qnce
or twice every year.
In February rain is scarce, in March and April heavy thunder showers
•ccur, but of a local character.
The desert near Muhammareh, being a sort of clay, becomes difficult to
traverse after a day’s heavy rain. Farther up, where there is an admixture
of sand, it soon dries.
Winds .—During the summer the prevailing wind is north-west, dry and
fairly cool in June, but later is a hot wind; and where it comes off a sandy
desert, as is the case along the Karun after roughly the first 50 miles from
Muhammarch, the dust carried by it is very trying to the exposed parts of
the body.
Heat .—Nights near Muhammareh are seldom oppressive near the Karun
river, the water of which is fairly cool, being 8° less than that of the Shatt-
al-’Arab.
At Ahwaz the nights during the hot weather are, as a rule, cooler than at
Muhammareh, and the climate there is dryer; but owing to there being no
trees in the neighbourhood it is exposed to the full force of the hot winds
during the day. After the beginningof September it is sometimes damp
damp and the heat is no longer excessive.
Cold .—There is usually frost in the mornings between 27th January and
4th February and in some years in December or early January.
During wet weather fever and dysentery often attack natives.—
(McDouall, 1907.)
People .—The inhabitants of Northern ’ Arabistan are of a mixed type. The
most important of the Arab tribes is the A1 Kathir, at present divided into
two factions : one occupying both banks of the Ab-i-D'z above the country
of the Anafijeh, and thence westwards as far as Ajairib ; while the other is
located farther west towards the Karkheh. The powerful Bait-Sa’d also dwell
upon both banks of the Ab-hDiz, while higher up the Karkheh in the neigh
bourhood of Shush is found the Surkha tribe. To the west of the Karkheh
and still within Persian territory are the numerous Bani Turuf. The
Mian-ab, the country between the Ab-i-Shatait and Ab-i-Gargar also con
tains some miscellaneous tribes of Arab extraction. The inhabitants of
Dizful and Shushtar are of mixed and somewhat mysterious origin. They
are considered to be of Assyrian descent with a large and now preponderat
ing admixture of Persian blood. Other inhabitants of Northern ’Arabistan
are Lurs and Bakhtiari. The former, who are wholly nomadic, come
down from their native mountain fastnesses at certain seasons of the year.
Of these the Sagwand at the present time (1906) are most in evid
ence ; the other two remaining powerful divisions, the Bairanawand and
Dirakwand being more or less at open warfare with the Persian Govern
ment. The Bakhtiari may also be considered nomadic, for although Khan