'Military Report on S. W. Persia, Volume II, Arabistan' [‎10v] (25/96)

10
also is to a large extent dependent upon Shushtar for its supplies
of imported merchandise.
The natural advantages of Shushtar are few : it is 5 miles from
Shalili, the terminus of steamers plying on the upper Karim from
Ahwaz. It is separated from Dizful by the Ab-i-Shatait, the bridge
over which has long been broken, the only substitute being an ex
tensive and not very safe ferry. It is only 2 stages nearer Isfahan
than is Nasiri, but this is counterbalanced by the greater cheapness
of food and grain at Shushtar than at Nasiri, which makes Shushtar
not Nasiri a centre for mules. However, for the present, there is
more business done in Shushtar than in any other town.
Dizjul draws the bulk of its imports from Muhammareh
via Nasiri, or via Nasiri and Shushtar. A small trade is carried on
between Dizful and Baghdad and other Turkish towns, but the
distance and the disturbed state of the country prevent this trade
from assuming large proportions. The trade between Dizful and
Kirmanshah, and Dizful and Burujird via Khurramabad is at pre
sent at a standstill owing to the unsettled state of the surrounding
country. . , ,. '
Nasiri is of considerable importance. As the head-quarters
of Messrs. Lynch Bros., the transhipping depot for through traffic
between Muhammareh and Shushtar, and the point of departure
for caravans for Isfahan, Bamuz, and also (when practicable)
Dizful, its importance is not likely to decrease. Nasiri is the
winter head-quarters of the British Vice-Consul for ’Arabist?,n, with
the local rank of Consul, but his interests are mainly political and
not commercial. He is an officer of the Foreign Dept, of the Govt,
of India.
In favourable years, which occur only twice or three times in
a decade, Nasiri becomes a centre for grain traffic. The compara
tively small population of Nasiri prevents its retail trade from be
coming important. The native merchants of Shushtar and other
towns have agents at Nasiri, but do most of their business else
where : except Messrs. Lynch Bros, and Messrs. P. Ter Meulen &
Co., a Dutch firm, no other firms of standing have their head-quar
ters at Ahwaz: Asfar & Co., a native firm, has occasionally kept
an agent at Ahwaz, but so f ar little success has attended his opera
tions.
It should be noted that the figures in the Annual Consular Re
ports, showing the volume of traffic on the Ahwaz-Isfahan road
are misleading, as they shew only the traffic of Messrs. Lynch
Bros., from Ahwaz, and take no count of other merchants’ opera
tions. It should also be borne in mind that the volume of traffic
,