'Reconnaissances in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan, North-West Persia, and Luristan from April to October 1888. By Lt F R Maunsell, Intelligence Branch. In Two Volumes. Volume I: narrative report, description of larger towns and routes leading from them. Simla: Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General's Dept, 1890' [‎27r] (58/312)

shallow irrigation cuts, muddy but easy g’oing: the larger canals are narrow
and deep ; impassable for l)aggage animals.
At 9 miles from Bahriz entered a series of low mounds strewn with
broken bricks and pieces of glazed blue and green pottery, among which we
could trace the lines of several ancient canals. These mounds are called Shahr
Habib, and extend for d miles along the road, and mark the site of some
extensive city. The soil is a rich alluvial clay, and the reopening of these
canals would restore fertility to this district.
The road is well defined but not much used, and we saw nobody all day
except two small Arab encampments with their flocks. At this time of year*
abundance of rain water is to be found in the hollows between the mounds.
At 15 miles a large marsh about 1 mile square was passed, called Shahr
Habib, with drinkable water and good grazing round the edges.
The grass, except, in the hollows, was getting burnt up nowj In summer
water has to be carried in skins on this route.
Bahul B nz .—At 23 miles wheat and barley crops again appeared, and we
crossed numerous small canals, offshoots from a large one at Balad Buz.
We halted in the gardens of the place at 2-15 p.m.
The heat of the sun was beginning to make itself felt at midday, hut the
weather otherwise was pleasant, with cool north-west breezes. Temperature
6 1° at starting and 78° at 2 p.m. Flies and mosquitoes very troublesome
in the date gardens. The grass is very line; red and white clover, yellow
trefoils, rve grass and other English varieties were noticed. The mules
carried no barley and were fed entirely on grass as is the usual custom at this
time of year.
A large canal called the Nahr Balad Buz comes through here from the
Diala near Shahruban, and is crossed by a small brick bridge in the village;
There is a strong flaw of muddy water in it now.
The date and fruit gardens are enclosed by high mud walls ; a few fields
of cotton are also grown.
There are 10 zaptivahs posted here, and it scorns a peaceable neighbour
hood. The inhabitants are settled Arabs. The town is very dirty with green
stagnant pools among the gardens, and it is not surprising that, it is very
unhealthy, and that the plague broke out here in 1884. A Greek proprietor,
M. baie, has a nice house here and farms the neighbouring district.
The Balad Buz canal runs south for some 8 miles and then loses itself in
the desert ; ’there is no system of directing the irrigation, and the water forms
large reedy marshes extending for a considerable way to the north-east, and
great quantities of water go waste. “ Houbara/’ snipe, quail and partridge
were to be found here.
Supplies here were abundant from a small bazar. The village is sur
rounded by a high mud wall, and the road enters and leaves it through
a gateway with loopholed wall on either side.
A track leads north along the west bank of the canal to Shahraban which
can be reached in eight hours. Now a large marsh has to he waded through,
and probably floods from the canal have blocked the road altogether.
23rd April.—General direction, E. Left Bahriz at 5 a.M. The Pusht-
i-Kuh hills ire now plainly visible in front. The Jabal Daimuri, a conical
prominent peak, forms a good landmark for steering towards Mendali. For
the first two miles our path led through irrigated crops, and then suddenly
entered on an overflow from the canal and we had to wade for two miles through
a muddy marsh 18" to 2' deep; the track was easily visible through the reeds;
hut the baggage got wet owing to the mules stumbling in some deep cuts.