‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎95r] (194/470)

191
Referring to the sketch of the vicinity of Shustar taken from the Pul-i-
. . f , Lashkar, the banks of the Ab-i-Khurd, below the
bridge, are well wooded, 12'high, and slope upwards
towards the city. The ground south of the town is uneven ; the poppy is
extensively cultivated on either bank. Above the bridge the banks of the Ab-i-
Khurd are also well wooded, and the ground along its left bank well cultivated,
and slopes upwards to the city. To the northward the ground slopes down
ward towards the Ab-i-Shateit. The timber is suited for bridging purposes
(crib piers).
Three gates give access to the city on either side.
The town walls are in ruins, and its outskirts are in ruins; an enclosed
enceinte could readily be formed out of its debris, stone being plentiful every
where. The town occupies a space not exceeding one mile square, and, as above
described, is situated on a slightly elevated site. The Ab-i-Gargar, a canal
whose water is drawn from the Karun, and across the mouth of which runs
the Band-i-Kaisar, washes it on the east, flowing in a bed 120' to 200' wide,
between perpendicular clilfs 50'to 100'high, consisting of clay with embedded
masses of soft limestone [see page 349).
To the north the hills, miles distant, and the rising ground beyond the
river command the town ; to the east of the Gargar rising ground also com
mands it; yet the ruined outskirts are so deep and the streets so narrow that
bombardment by light artillery would cause little damage. To the west, round
by south, the Ab-i-Khurd, a canal taken out of the Ab-i-Shateit at Valerian's
bridge, and falling into the Gargar below the Pul-i-Lashkar, completes the
water defence on that side. Again, to its west, lies the Ab-i-Shateit itself.
The streets of the town are 8' to 10' wide; worn into deep ruts, they are
Town most difficult to traverse, and are quite impassable to
wheels; they are the city drains (see Dizful, page 199 ).
The walls of the houses are high for those of the east, 15' to 25' and 30',
and are solidly constructed of stone and lime or mud. The roofs are mostly
flat, of mud over wooden rafters; some are arched; the bricks in use are about
l^" thick. Numerous arcades exist in the town, many of which are in ruins.
The fort, 350 to 400 yards long x 150 yards wide, stands on high ground
F irt 200 yards above Valerian's bridge; the citadel occu
pies its north-east angle, and dominates its interior.
Its outer walls, 15' to 20' high, are of mud, 6' thick, and backed by casemates
with pointed arched doorways opening into the interior, now a poppy garden.
The roofs of the casemates are flat.
A canal from the Ab-i-Shateit flows into a tunnel under the fort, from which
water is drawn by wells. Branches from this tunnel supply the city with
water. Arms and ammunition were said to be stored in the fort. It mounts
no artillery. The Ab-i-Gargar washes its northern face; houses crowd upon
its other faces.
The bridge of Valerian, of over 30 arches and 600 yards long, over
„ .. . tt , • the Ab-i-Shateit, is constructed of brick and stone.
Bridge of Valerian. ^ fow ^ ^ Ba , ld _ i . Kaisar „
Band-i-Shahzadah, and below the fort. It is built on the Band-i-Mizan. The
spans of the arches are small, generally under 15'; some may equal 20'. It
holds up the water of the Karun, and forces a considerable volume of it into the
Ab-i-Khurd or Ab-i-Miyandab or Nahr-i-Dariyan, a canal whose mouth is just
above the left bank abutments of the bridge. This canal is said to be ford
able everywhere after it issues from its excavated bed. Its channel, immediately