'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎440r] (884/982)

—Shushtar and Dizful {vide also this Gazetteer—Northern ’Arabistan)
writes :—
“ There is no market for mules in the town of Shushtar itself, neither
can it be said to be a ‘ district ’ from which such a supply is obtainable.
There are a limited number of mules in use for agricultural and such pur
poses, while an equally limited number, locally owned, are engaged in the
carrying trade with Dizful and Isfahan.”
Administration .—Shushtar, though inferior to Dizful in size and
prosperity, is the head-quarters of the Persian Administration in Northern
’Arabistan. This distinction it no doubt owes to its strategic importance
with regard both to its situation geographically and its accessibility from the
Karun river [vide this Gazetteer—Gargar (Ab-i-)]. The citadel or kaleh,
formerly known as the Kaieh-i-Salasal, but now generally styled simply
Kaleh-i-Hukumatl, is situated on the rocky bluff where the Shatait
branches off and contains the palace of the Governor-General; while on the
lower ground to its west stands the arsenal, with a considerable open space
between it and the town. The kaleh, which is constructed in several tiers,
might well have withstood a siege in former days, but is now commanded at
short range by part of the town, and at longer ranges from the hills on the
west bank of the Shatait. A small garrison is in evidence when the
Governor-General is in residence ; but is withdrawn to Dizful or elsewhere
when he leaves the place. There are at Shushtar a Persian Post office,
telegraph olfice and customs house.
The revenue levied is a part of that levied on the district though col
lected separately. This, assessed in lump sums upon the different trade
guilds, is collected by the head of each guild, and paid by him to the
Mustaufi. The following are some of the principal heads under which reve
nue is collected :—
Baqqdls, or general dealers
Bazzdzes, or cloth merchants
’Attars, or grocers and druggists
Hardmbdfs, or carpet-weavers
Coppersmiths „.
Millers
Per annum.
Tumdns.
300
200
120
150
140
.. from 600 to 800
The ferry on the Rhatait (a monopoly held by the Governor-General)—
600 tumdns per annum. The revenue of the flour mills is collected by a
curious double method. The mill-owner first takes for himself one cTieJidrak
for every man ground, and the Government farrash at the same time takes 2
siah piil in cash from the owner of the flour for every man ; afterwards the
money received from the persons patronising a particular mill having been
totalled at the end of every week, the owner of the mill is required to deliver
to Government one man of flour for every krdn which has been collected
by the Government of his customers.
The administration of public charity and of education is in the hands of
Mujtahids, who, before the advent of the present strong Governor in 1905,