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‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎52r] (108/470)

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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75
Belibalian is distant 3 long or 4< short stages (see Appendix, page 39.9).
It is bounded to the north and north-west by Mungasht, and by a low
range of hills dividing it from Hallagan.
Returning to Ram Hormuz, and starting from the naptha springs, we
Maidan-i-Taulah. cross the low hills, and enter upon the plain of Taulah,
which runs in almost an uninterrupted line to the vici
nity of Shustar, receiving, however, various names in different districts. Small
ridges frequently branch from the principal chain and form separations between
different pasture grounds. To the north-west of Taulah is the small plain of
Khar-i-Shutur-Zar (place of camel thorn), beyond which is Gulgfr (see
page 363).
Between Gulgir and Sarasia lies an undulating country, mostly dry, 'water
less, and stony, watered by two marshy streams. There are no villages; fuel is
scarce; the lliyats camp upon it. The village of Gulgir or Gurgir, altitude
1,430', lies in a very barren valley, with the Kuh-i-Asmari to the east; it is
inhabited by Saiyids, and is the site of two Imamzadas (Baring).
There is a road to Shustar via the Khar-i-Shutur-Zar (see Appmdi.r, page 396),
From the ruined village of Taulah, situated at the extreme south-east point
Kal’a-i-Mangasht. ^ ie Kuh-i-Asmari range, the hill fort of Mungasht
bears S. 30° E., an isolated mass of rock standing out
detached from the southern face of the range. The summit of the rock is
scarped all round to a depth of about 150 feet, the only means of access being
along a narrow and rocky shoulder to a point where the scarp lowers to about 50’,
and where it is to be climbed with some difficulty. The summit measures half
a mile in circumference, and contains two perennial springs. There are natural
caverns upon the summit capable of holding 1,000 men. It was the stronghold
of the Atabegs during the 12th, 13th, 14th centuries, and is a maiden fortress
(Rawlinson). Kaba-i-Tul is distant 6 farsakhs, the road lying along the skirts
of the range.
The fort lies above the source of the Ab-i-Bagh-i-Malek, 4 farsakhs from
Bagh i-Malek. To the east of the fort two other rivers, known after this
junction as the Du-Rudiwan or Durun, have their source ; they flow into the
Ram-Hormuz river (Schindler).
To the east of the fort is the Rahdar-i-Darwaza-i-Gach, the ruins of a toll-
gate on the old commercial route between Elymais and Central Persia
(Be Bode),—see wap. Behind the fort, as seen from the toll-gate, somewhat to
the right in the mountains, are Chahar Rustam and KaPa Mula, the chief fort
of the Teibi Kuhgehlu (Be Bode),—see page 108.
To the west of Gulgfr is the small plain of Shakar-Ab; beyond which
Maidan-i-Shakar-Ab. is Lawari, a district abounding in Konar trees. This
plain is divided from that of Biatawand by a low ridge
of sandhills.
The Lawari valley is entered from the Shustar side by the
Gardan-i-Zan-i-Murda. Watered by the Shur-Ab (salt stream), it is Ifl to 17
miles long, its soil is fertile, but is not cultivated. Drinking water is scarce.
The ruins of cemeteries and tanks points to the valley having been formerly
inhabited (Schindler).
From the summit of the mountains of Mungasht, this country has the
appearance of a vast sea of broken hills. The plains are in general too small
to be distinctly distinguished. Beyond this confused mass the plain of Ram-
Ho rmuz appears to stretch in one uninterrupted line to the Shatt-al-Arab.
There are few prospects more sublime than the view from that elevated position.

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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.’ [‎52r] (108/470), 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_100048990082.0x00006d> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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