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‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎55v] (115/470)

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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82
For a description of that lying to the south and east of the line Isfahan*
Shu star, see Part IV, Road Report No. 4, Isfahan to Behhahdn via Arddl, Feldt,
Sadat and the Tekdb-pass, and Appendix A for further notes on the country
between Isfahan and Shustar and that between Shustar and Shiraz.
The geological characteristics of South-IVest Persia are fully described
in Appendix C.
The Iliydls of South-West Persia.
The peoples inhabiting the south-west of Persia are ehieflyThyats or nomads
of foreign origin, the residue of the overflowings from both the W est and^Kast ;
of the Saracen conquerors and of the followers of Jengiz Khan and iaiinur
{see pages 73,81). They constitute, perhaps, rather more than one-fourth of the
inhabitants of Persia and are now both Shahr and Deh-Nishins (settleis in tow ns
and villages) and Sahra-Nishins or Iliyats (nomads) ; the former are despised
by the latter and considered by them to be degenerate and fallers-oft from
the simplicity and hardihood of nomad life and recurrers to^ city protection.
This sentiment is but one of envy; the life of the dehnishms would attract
all did not the counterbalancing fear of exactions and increased taxation serve
to force them to a mode of life less under government control. A foreign
race, they are prone ,to rebellion, and if assisted from abroad would not submit
to Persia.
The Sahrd-Nishvns are taxed, kept dispersed, and their chiefs kept as
hostages at Tehran ; they are made to contribute to the military power of
the State, hut are less molested than the Shahr-Nishins ; the limits of their
pastures are defined by government.
Their flocks are taxed; and if they cultivate the soil, they are taxed as
cultivators.
A moderate fortune for an Iliyat consists in the possession of 100 sheep,
3 or4 mares, 10 asses, yielding a revenue of from 40 to 50 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . A rich
Khan will possess ten times the above.
As a rule they break up their winter camps one month after the Nau-ruz
(new-year's day or spring equinox) and then travel from the Garmnr or
Kishldk to the Sar-hadd or boundary of the hot and cold regions; staying
there one month, they wander on to the “ laildk or Sardsir and remain there
70days. Returning to the they again stay there 1 month before
returning to the Kishldk for the winter [see pages 257, 263).-—Morier.
They possess a line race of dogs ; sheep constitute their chief wealth {see
pages 3, 98). They arrange that the ewes shall bear about naw-ruz. They
sheer twice a year.
They are good raw material for troops, but difficult to discipline.
The Persian irregular cavalry is chieHy recruited from the Iliyats. In-
dividually they are excellent horsemen, expert in the use
liy.it .naiy. of carbine, sword and lance, but they cannot act in
unison {see page 136).
Their oflicers are no better trained in tactical knowledge than the rank
and file, and the troops, being commanded by their own local chief, family
jealousies prevent a unity of feeling and aim.
The cavalry horses (when a force of Iliyats is embodied) are sent out
under a small guard to graze whenever possible; in quarters their food
consists of chopped straw and barley; an average daily ration is 7 lbs. barley
and from 14 to 20 lbs. of chopped straw.

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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.’ [‎55v] (115/470), 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_100048990082.0x000074> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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