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‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [9r] (22/470)
The record is made up of 1 volume (231 folios). It was created in 1885. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
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PART I.
Narrative Account of a Reconnaissance carried out in South-West Persia
during the months of March, April, May, and June 1884.
The objects of the reconnaissance were—
I. —To traverse the road, Muhammerah, Shustar, Dizful, Khoramabad,
Sultanabad, Kdm; the direct road from the head of
naissanec* ° ^ 1<ton ’ the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
on Tehran, and, geographically speak
ing, its natural, main commercial artery;
II. —To traverse the direct road Kum, Gulpaigan ;
III. —To traverse the country bordering the Bakhtian hills to the north
and east (the road, I, skirts them to the west) in order to
obtain information of all roads leading through them from
Shustar and Dizful towards Gulpaigan and Isfahan ;
IV. —To traverse the road from Isfahan through the Khugehlu hills to
Behbahan and Bandar Dilam, on the Gulf, the most direct
road from the sea to Isfahan (with a branch road from
Behbahan to Shiraz) and one likely to prove to be of commercial
and military importance;
V. —And finally, without drawing attention or exciting suspicion, to
keep a detailed record of the journey and to map the road
traversed.
Lance-
Duffadar
A Non-Commissioned Officer in the Indian Cavalry.
Shahsowar, Farsiwan, of the Queen’s Own Corps of
Guides, accompanied me as orderly, and to him I am indebted for most valu
able aid; on all occasions, in dealing with both Persian and Lur chiefs, he
interpreted my wishes most intelligently and furthered them by the by-play
so necessary in dealing with all Orientals; and he, a Shiya’, Muhammadan and
co-religionist with them, when upbraided for serving a Christian power, would
justify his action by many references to the justness of our rule and the
security that he enjoyed under it, in contradistinction to the oppression that
they suffered and to the insecurity of their lives and property under rulers
of their own faith,—arguments always admitted.
The journey was commenced from Bombay on the 5th March, passages
being taken for myself, orderly, and cook in the S.S.
Bombay to Basra. Arabia, one of the fleet of the British India Steam
Navigation Company running weekly to the various
ports of the Gulf.
The following arms were obtained from the Bombay Arsenal, viz.,
«3 Henri-Martini breech-loading cavalry carbines, with buckets to
attach to saddle and 50 rounds of ammunition per carbine.
6 Rifled pistols, muzzle-loaders, with ammunition.
3 Revolvers, with ammunition.
1
About this item
- Content
Report marked strictly confidential, prepared in the Intelligence Branch of the Quarter Master General’s Department in India, by the Assistant Quarter Master General, Major and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Sever Bell, Royal Engineers. The volume was published by the Government Central Branch Press, Simla, 1885.
The contents of the volume are as follows:
- part I, a narrative description of a journey from India to Muhammerah [Khorramshahr], through to the Luristán [Lorestān] hills, to Kúm [Qom]; from Kúm to Gulpaigán [Golpāyegān ], Chaman-i-Sultán [Chaman Solţān], Ali-Gúdar [Alīgūdarz], Imámzádá-Ishmail [Emāmzādeh Esmā‘īl], and the Zaindarúd River [Zāyandeh Rūd] to Isfahán; from Isfahán through the Kúhgehlú [Kohgīlūyeh] hills to Behbahán and Bandar-Dilám [Bandar-e Deylam]; from Bandar-Dilám to Bushire
- part II, a detailed account of southwest Persia, compiled from Sever’s own observations and other available sources
- part III, commercial considerations. A further section in this chapter on strategic observations, which is mentioned on the contents page and marked as secret, is not present in the volume
- part IV, detailed road reports
- appendix A, road reports, Isfahan to Shústar [Shūshtar], Shústar to Shíráz [Shīrāz], compiled in 1881 by Captain Henry Lake Wells, Assistant Director of Persian Telegraphs, with additional annotations by Bell
- appendix B, a list of plant specimens collected in Luristán during April and May 1884
- appendix C, extracts of a paper on the geology of the Turko-Persian frontier, written by William Kennett Loftus, June 1854
- appendix D, meteorological observations at Bushire, from 20 March to 20 June 1885
The volume includes eight maps, two photographic plates, and illustrations throughout (topographical, architectural, anthropological). The two photographic plates and some of the maps are of an earlier date than the volume’s publication date of 1885.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (231 folios)
- Arrangement
A contents page (f 7) and index (ff 222-226) refer to the volume’s original printed pagination.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 233; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [9r] (22/470), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/9, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100048990082.0x000017> [accessed 19 April 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/MIL/17/15/9
- Title
- ‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:11v, 13r:62v, 64r:82v, 84r:88v, 90r:95v, 97r:190v, 210r:228v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence