![‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎25r] (54/470)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000239.0x00012f/IOR_L_MIL_17_15_9_0056.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎25r] (54/470)")
‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [25r] (54/470)
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
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
29
Miles.
From Sibi to Herat is roughly ... ... ••• ^
From Herat to the Caspian roughly ... ... •••
In friendly intercourse with the numerous Khans whom I met wherever
I went, I was asked whether I were English or Russian,
British and Russian an( j j c0 nsider that I lost nothing by my nationality ;
influence. j n f ac t t h e re verse was the case, for the influence of
England notwithstanding all that I have heard to the contrary, is still, in my
opinion, in Southern Persia at least, superior to that of Russia. The vast
wealth of England in money and ships is fully recognised and the possibility
of her raising an army of over a million of men, all told, was easily demon-
Nor is the country unfavourable, as a whole, to the march of an army
across it, and it possesses several advantages; flank
Muhammerah to tho stacks need not be feared or could be readily foreseen
Caspian, vid Biirujird. ^ against; the hills of Luristan are the
breeding grounds for the transport of the country, mules, donkeys, horses,
cows • its pastures are excellent; its horsemen are well suited for all light
cavalry purposes and could be readily recruited and trained, for they look upon
wnr as their natural profession; the Karun districts and those ot Ilamadan
and Karmanshah are the granaries of Persia. For f urther considerations, see
^ Should political considerations not be favourable, the occupation of South-
Western Persia, i.e., Arabistan, Luristan and part of bars, by a naval power
will enable it to coerce Persia, to threaten in flank an army based on the
Caspian Sea, and to protect any overland route to India, that may, in the
future, run through Mesopotamia along the line of its great rivers or to the
northward of them. .
Its inhabitants have no desire to be subservient to either I rmce or bhah,
and would welcome any change of masters under whose protection they could
live in peace, cultivate the soil, rear their flocks and herds, and enjoy the fruits
of their labours.
Such a position is next to impregnable.
See strategical consideration, Fart III.
For commercial values of the routes talcen, see commercial considerations,
Fart III, and details, Fart IV .
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [25r] (54/470), 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_100048990082.0x000037> [accessed 20 April 2024]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100048990082.0x000037
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100048990082.0x000037">‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎25r] (54/470)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100048990082.0x000037"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000239.0x00012f/IOR_L_MIL_17_15_9_0056.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000239.0x00012f/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- 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