‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎53r] (110/470)

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earliest. Kayanian epoch. There is a tradition that this was the site of a most
ancient and extensive city, which occupied the whole of the plain, and was the
residence of the monarch of the mountains ; hence its name of the Prince's
house. There are many stories of subterraneous passages among the Lurs, and
they have wonderful traditions respecting different mounds. Gold and silver
coins are frequently found. They are of course immediately melted down and
converted into ornaments. It is said that Hasan Khan, the last chief of the
Chahar Lang, found a large treasure here. Sculptures occur in four distinct
places in the plain—three are Kayanian, and the fourth Sasanian. The most
remarkable are those in the Kill Taraun, a small tang or gorge to the north of
the ruins.
In the plain of Mai Amir there are several Sasanian ruins with remains
of small canals and water-courses. This plain is badly irrigated. A few
springs rise at the foot of the hills, and a stream of brackish water flows
through the midst of the principal group of mounds. The eastern extremity
of the plain in the winter and spring is converted into a marsh. Indeed, the
whole after winter rains is sometimes inundated, as the torrents that rush
down the mountain sides have no outlet. There is a small stream running
from Mai Amir through a narrow tang to Halhlgan, but it is frequently dry.
Four to six farsakhs to the north-west of Mai Amir are the remains of the city
of Susan on the right bank of the Karun. The road conducting from Mai
Amir traverses the chain of Gilgird by a narrow pass at the south-east corner
of the city {see further on). It can he reached in one day on horseback.
On the smallest disturbance in the mountains, this plain is verv difficult
of access, as it lies on the frontiers of the Dinamnls. Indeed, at all times this
wild and lawless tribe has rendered this part of the country very insecure.
A paved high road was once carried through this plain {see page 72). A
Paved road, Slnistar- caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). in ruins exists at the western extremity of
Isfahan. Ma,l Amir. The next station, for the stations between
Shustar and the eastern side of the great chain can still be traced, is at the
foot of the mountains near Bors, where there are the ruins of a large caravan
serai. The Lurs attribute this road to the Atabegs; it is evidently a very
ancient work.
Traces of this old Atabeg road are numerous. Leaving Sliustar it travers
ed the Lawari valley and by Pul-i-buvlda, Manjinnik (Bagh-i-Malik), Hela-
figan (Hallagan), Idedj (Mal-Armr), by the Rah-i-Sultani to KaPa Medrassa,
over the old bridge near God-i-Balutak, Pul-i-Amarat, and Dupulan to Ardal;
over the Sdiedjan viaduct and the Gardan-i-Zarra to Kahv-i-Rukh.
From Pul-i-Amaret it appears to have branched by Armen, Lurdagan
Felat, Simaran, Kari or Korl to Kumesheh, and again from Felat to Shiraz
{see pages 291, 292, 295,325).
The descent on to the Mai Amir plain from Deh-diz is difficult and ston}\
The plain, at first narrow, soon widens; at one end it is overgrown with camel
thorn, but the centre is well cultivated with wheat and barley; rice is grown
at the western extremity, where irrigation is possible; the rest of the plain is
dependent on rainfall {Baring).
This plain is the most western of the “Garmsin” or winter stations, and
marks the change in the character of the mountains which now rise to great
heights and in close proximity to each other. Conglomerates and limestones
now take the place of gypsums and marls. The height of the plain is 2,930
feet.
Two roads lead from the village, a group of reed huts with two Imamza-
das, to Shustar; the direct road keeps to the north; the better road via