'MILITARY REPORT ON PERSIA. VOL. IV, PART II.' [‎36r] (76/212)

59
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ing it
land
Rivers .—The rivers are unimportant, the largest being, Rivers,
perhaps, the Shur, which flows into the Clarence Straits near
Khamir, but this like many of the smaller streams, is salt, and
therefore not of much value for purposes of irrigation.
Ldr .—The capital town of the province stands at an alti- Towns,
tude of 2,975'. It is 153 miles from Shiraz and 127 from Lar '
Bandar Abbas, situated at the west end of a valley running
from east and west and nestling- at the foot of low, limestone
hills, which block the west extremity of the valley ; it is not
visible from any great distance on the roads leading to it.
It is an unwalled city covering about £ square mile*
dominated by two steep, limestone hills about 400' above the
level of the city. The north hill contains one or two huts ana
the ruins of an old fort. The north slope was formerly descended
by a large ditch with bastions, the remains of which are still
visible. The other hill is crowmed by the ruins of an old mud
fort, now entirely dilapidated, and commanded from the top
of the northern hill which is about 1,200 yards away.
Lar has a population of approxiir"tely 8,000 souls. There
are no local manufactories and the place owes its importance
to the fact that it is a centre of trade and a halting place for
large caravans. It has a covered bazaar with shops ; close to
the west and east ends of the bazaar there are two large roofed
cisterns, some 35'deep, containing a large supply of good water.
The houses are usually commodious and well-built with a central
courtyard. There are numerous cisterns in which rain water
is collected and a number of large wells about 70' deep which
give brackish water. There is also a large qana giving a
large supply of water.
The residence of the Covernor is in the centre of the town
surrounded by a strong Avail flanked with towers. In the
centre of the toAvn and close to the bazaar there are two large
sarais about SO' square surrounded by small rdfoms.
Fvrg or Furl -.—Elevation 2,800', Furg is the next toAvn of
importance. It is situated 156 miles from Bandar Abbas, 189 r °’
miles from Lingeh and 107 miles from Shiraz. The town is built
in the form of a square with sides about 400 yards long and is
surrounded by a high mud wall, flanked at intervals of 75
yards by round mud toAvers, Avhile a larger toAver in the centre
is used as a keep. There is no moat and the defences are in c,
very dilapidated state.