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‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎90r] (184/470)

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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185
24
I. —Can bn taken in reverse by fire from the right bank of the river, and
can be readily outflanked on the left bank.
II. —The crest of this ridge, rising 50' to 100', faced on the south by low,
open undulations, with slopes of 2° and 3°, forms a strong position facing in
that direction. The hills, however, have no depth, and their northern slopes are
steep, and beyond them lies a flat cultivated plain, both of which can be taken
in reverse by fire from the right bank. The hills break off on the left bank of
the river, and do not again rise until about 4 or 5 miles beyond its right bank.
III. —The fort occupies the high ground abreast of No. 1 falls. It is a rect
angular work of no strength, and practically unflanked, of 200' side, and com-
p ort mandof 15' to 18'. Its walls are of stone and mud, and
constitute the front walls of a series of barracks built
round an open courtyard. The total depth of the barracks is 20' ; their
roofs are flat, and round them runs a low parapet wall capable of being manned
by infantry. The entrance is to the north, and is closed by gates of no strength.
For remai’ks on the political and commercial value of the Karun river, see
Part III.
The river at this season between Ahwaz and Muhammerah is said to carry
Karun river. nothing under 12/ In the dry season it does not carry
in places over 3' or 4', the minimum depth of 3' being
met with in the autumn at Ismailiyah. Beilams (ballams),small boats, 15' to
20' long, 3' wide, and flat bottomed, carrying one to two tons of merchandise,
can be tracked up stream in March from Muhammerah to Ahwaz in four or
five days ; provided with a large sail, they ply down-streaki.
From the Karun, below Shustar, to the Bahmeh-Slur, its mouth, numerous
canals and water-courses have been drawn. Their beds are now elevated above
the river, even when the stream is highest. All seen were dry. The principal
part of the waters of the Karun (three-fourths) discharge into the Shat-ahArab
by the Haffar canal, 3 miles long, 300 to 400 yards broad, with a depth of 20
to 30'. Both banks are lined with date trees. Muhammerah stands on its
right bank, half a mile up it {see pages 41,178).
The Bahmeh-Shir carries 7' over its worst shallows at low tide, and is about
liahmeh-Slnr half a mile wide. It is now little used, and appears
to be becoming shallower yearly.
The rise of tide varies between 8' and 10'. A couple of miles above Gisbah or
Kusbeh, on the left bank, is the entrance to the Dorak canal, connecting the
rivers Karun and Jarrahi, now navigable only by beilams {see page 47).
Dorak or Felahiyahis oneof the chief towns of the Shaikhs of the Chab Arabs
(Ka’b). At Idnsiyah is a small town and fort on the left bank.
Ismailiyah carries on a small trade. At Samayni, 2 farsakhs above Mu
hammerah, on the right bank, is a village and ferry.
Route No. 1 — contd.
From Muhammerah to Tehran, Sfc. —contd.
o .
or
Distances in
miles.
^ 6 C
£2
gCfl
3
Time.
Names of towns, villages, &c.
Interme
diate.
Total.
Remarks.
A.M.
29th March 18S4.
5
8-5
AnwXz
82
The road skirts the river and passes the
low range of hills rising out of the level

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
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‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎90r] (184/470), 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_100048990082.0x0000b9> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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