‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎97v] (199/470)

194
Shustar ami Isfahan, Khoramabad and Gulpaigan, as well as Ali-Gddar and (see
page 259) Akhora-Ba!a. Beyond the construction, in the first instance, of roads
fit for laden mules and mule litters through the hills nothing is required.; such
roads would cost little, but it is questionable whether the Persians themselves
can construct them, as they have no proper hill road-making tools, and are
almost ignorant of blasting (see page 110). Nor would the opening of the
Kanin be viewed with indifference by the Shaikh of Muhammerah, if what
was reported be true; it would increase his wealth, but it would at the same
time draw down upon him the cupidity of his Persian masters, and even
tually lead to his fall ; and he is said not to favour the idea, much as he
leans towards the British (see page 178). Mr. Mackenzie is of opinion that
steam vessels towing rafts could make the ascent to Ahwaz in 50 hours and
the descent in 20. The steam launch of Shaikh Mizal made the ascent in
five days and the descent in 12 hours in April 1884.
The whole question of the advantage of opening the Karun to navigation
depends wholly on the security of the road between Dizful and Khoramabad,
for the road itself, even unimproved, is better than any other of the kali la
roads leading to the central plateau of Persia between Bushire and Muham
merah (see Part 111, Commercial considerations).
That the river is capable of being navigated in the early spring by steam
ers is shown by the following notes abstracted from Yol. XIV of the
Journal of the Royal Geographical Society :—
N.B. —It should be noted that the firewood which grew so plentifully along
the banks of the rivers Karun, Dizful, and Gargar in 1842 had almost dis
appeared in 1884.
Lieutenant Selby, who carefully explored in 1842 both the branches of the
Karun as far as Shustar and the Ab-i-Dizful to within a few miles of it, con
siders them to be well suited to navigation—an opinion in which most travel
lers have since concurred.
These are the high roads into the very heart of Persia, and the civilization
of the country demands that they should be opened up to trathc. The country
they traverse is healthy and fertile; friendly tribes inhabit it. All considera
tions point to them as a means whereby our political and commercial interests
may be increased.
The seasons during which rain falls, followed by that of the melting of the
snow, i.e.^ from December to June, are the months during which the waters
of the Karun and its alfiuents are at the highest; their rise and fall is irregu
lar. In 1842, the highest rise was in February, and equalled 12'. They are
not fordable between the sea and Shustar.
Ihe Assyria took 5 days to reach Shustar from Muhammerah by the main
river, including delays in cutting wood* and a detention of 10 hours. She
anchored every evening. The navigation presented no ditficulties. By the
Ab-i-Gargar, and after the establishment of fuel depots, Lieutenant Selby was
of opinion that the Assyria could have reached Shustar in 2| days.
The fittest stations above Muhammerah are—
Kal’a Idrisiyah, left bank
Ahwaz, left bank
Band-i-Kir, right bank
Shustar, by main river
„ by Ab-i-Gargar
Hours.
18
16
10
10
8
* i * ^ a j or Bell saw no nearer approach to wo id than the tamarisk bush, a very poor
ue or eating the boilers of a steamer. Naphtha can be obtained from the hills to the north-east
between Shustar and liam-Hormuz and near the Kuh-Asinari (seepage 44).