'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎59r] (122/982)

BAK-BAK
107
Communications—External .—The Bakhtiari country, as already des
cribed, lies embedded between the provinces of Isfahan, Luristan, Bars
and ’ Arabistan. On the north its boundary lies some 40 miles distant from
Isfahan by the road ; the prolongation of which is generally known as
the Lynch road. The first village of any importance reached in the
Bakhtiari jurisdiction is that of Kaveh, Bukh, distant 5G miles from
Isfahan. From the north-west, i.e., Luristan, the approaches are through
an inhospitable country - and by lofty and difficult mountain passes.
From the east, i.e., Bars, the approaches which pass through the ^ Qash-
qal country are equally irhospitable, though physically less formidable.
It is from the south that this country is most easily reached, and, more
important still, from the sea‘—by the great, and only waterway of Persia,
the Karun river. This liver, the origin of which has been biiefly noted on
above, after a tortuous course through the wild gorges and defiles of the
higher Bakhfiari mountains, at length emerges from the hills immediately
to the north of Shushtar, in a due southerly direction, and pursues its
sinuous course over the wide alluvial plain that stretches to the Shatt-
al-’Arab and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . On the way it receives at Band-i-Qir
its main affluent the Ab-i-Diz *, while lower down its channel is inter
rupted and its navigation impeded by the rapids at Ahwaz. At the
river port of Muhammerah it flows into the estuary of the Shatt-aL
’Arab, by which, 50 miles lower down beyond Fao, the combined waters
of the Tigris and Euphrates enter the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The bar at the
outlet of the Shatt-al-’Arab into the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. only admits of steamers
crossing it, with a draught not exceeding 16 feet; while the anchorage
opposite Muhammareh shows from 25 to 30 feet of water. The distance by
river from Muhammareh to the rapids immediately abo\ e Nasims 1^.0 miles.
The opening up of this, the only, navigable stretch all the year round of
the Karun river to foreign steamers in October 1888, though under some
what vexatious conditions, was utilised by Messrs. ^ Lynch Bros., who
at once put one of their Tigris river-steamers on to this run. They have
maintained a fortnightly service ever since, though at a poor return
for its upkeep. The draught of their steam-boats does not exceed 3 feet
6 inches to allow of their" passing over the shoals at all seasons of the
year When, however, the river is high, e. (]., between December and
May' a 6-foot draught would be found quite feasible with careful navi
gation. Above the falls at Nasiri, from Ahwaz to Band-i-Qir (the latter at
a distance of 46 miles, and situated at the confluence of the Ab-i-Diz with
the two branches of the Karun waters), a light steamer of 2| feet draught
is run all the year round by Messrs. Lynch Bros, on behalf of the Persian
Government This is an arrangement, by which the force of an interdic
tion against the use of the upper reaches of the river by foreign navigation
is overcome. From Band-i-Qn onwards and up the Ab-i-Gargar (as the left
or more easterly branch of the division of the Karun waters js named) nav
igation is possible between December and May by this same light-draught
steamer, as far as Shalalieh, about 8 miles south of Shushtar. All outside
trade with the Bakhtiari, not to mention what is carried through to Isfahan
and places beyond, as well as that directly northwards to Shushtar, Diz-
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