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‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎30v] (65/470)

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. .

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40'
I The alluvial plain of South-West Persia.
General description.
From Muhammerah, on the right bank of the Hafar canal, near its June-
tion with the Shatt-al-Arab, to Bushire, a distance of
Coast liue and offing. over miles, the coast line lies low, and is fronted by
a shallow offing, the 3 fathom line being at an average distance of 2 4 to 3
miles from it: its harbours or “ bandai^ ^ scarcely deserve the name, baking
advantage of a creek or a river which has worked for itself a way through
the sandy offing to low water, often a distance of from 1 to 2 miles, the native
craft of the o-ulf will run up them at high tides, and there lie aground till the
next favourable tide enables them to leave. The immediate shore line often
consists of a belt of low sand hills 10' to 15' high and 100 to 300 yards deep.
The principal craft that trade from these ports beyond the gulf are called
baghalahs; they are from 100 to 400 tons, and are
Baghalabs. clumsily rigged with a huge main sail and latteen sail
and small latteen “ mizen^ They cannot tack and require a large crew. They
do not go to sea in the south-west monsoon. Though clumsy in appearance
above water, with a high poop, they have line bottoms and sail well, especially
in light winds { Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Pilot).
The boats in use on the Karun, and on the rivers generally, for cargo pur
poses combine the advantages of sails and oars; they
Boat8 ' are of various sizes, from 5 tons to 70 tons burden, and
are of one uniform shape, having a broad raking bow, much of which is
out of water, and a full and heavy stern, with a kind of open poop, raised for
the accommodation of the captain and his crew, the rest of the space being
left for the cargo. In general, the rig is the same, consisting of one mast,
nearly amidships, leaning very much forward, and spreading an immense
latteen sail, which extends from stem to stern. The ordinary size of such a
boat is 90' long and 20' wide; the draft of water is 7' 3 # , and the vessel
carries about 70 tons {Chesney).
The boats used on the rivers contiguous to the Kariin (Euphrates, &e.)
resemble a half moon in shape; their ribs and flanks are roughly nailed to
gether, and the outside coated with bitumen ; they have no keel; the rudder
is a clumsy contrivance of spars of large size; with one mast carrying a large
latteen sail, they can tack against the current.
Ballams or beilams, in general use on the Karun, are 15' to 20' long, 3'
■wide, flat bottomed > they draw G # of water; provided wdth a huge latteen sail,
they fly down stream.
The chief harbours between Bushire and Muham-
merah are :—
Harbours.
Khor Ru-hillah.—Navigated by boats of small burden for some miles to the village of the
same name ; it is shallow at the entrance {see page 313).
Khor Geseir.—A large creek, frequented by large boats {see page 313).
Bandar High.—A small creek, inside which boats lie aground (see page 312).
Genawah {see page 311). —Near it is Khor Khalil, a tidal creek or watercourse {see page
312Y
Khor Sini, Khor Abd, Khor Lulatain.—All small creeks, which can be safely approached to
within a mile (see page 310).
Dilam (see page 300).
Shah Abu-al-Shah, where is a small creek used by coasting craft.
Tab river or Hindiyan river.—Entrance shallow ; boats of 20 to 30 tons navigate the river.
Khor Masbur.—A large salt water inlet, receiving the waters of the Dorak river.
They being all of the same nature, and no one of the small harbours hav-
ing a distinct advantage over any other, for military
v purposes they are of equal value, in all cases piers would

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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
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‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎30v] (65/470), 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_100048990082.0x000042> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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