‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎100r] (204/470)

199
Route No. 1 — contd.
From Muhammerah to Tehran, Sfc. —contd.
Barometer, after heavy storm of rain and wind, 29 , 1".
4th April 1884.
'emperature, 9 am., 60 .
Barometer, 1 p.m., 29 , 45' / .
j 5th April 1884.
Temperature, 8-35 a.m., 58°.
Barometer, 8-35 a m., 29'56 7 .
The trade of both Shustar and Dizfiil has dwindled to insignificant proportion. There
is no activity in the bazar of either town from remediable causes already explained (seepage 7 ),
and the extortion and want of security inseparable from an Oriental despotism (seepages 90,100).
In my presence, and the presence of the Naib Vizier and Deputy Governor, it was openly stated
that no government, or justice, or rule of any sort existed ; that exactions and insecurity of
property had ruined all trade, and that any invader, who could change the existing order of
things, would be welcomed with joy.
The alternative road from Shustar passes through the village of Kaounek (6 farsakhs
from Dizful), where Darab Khan, a Bakhtiari of Kal’a-i-Tul, with a section of the tribe, resided
in 1882. Along it the line of telegraph runs.
Between this road and the hills lies the low sandstone ridge referred to as bordering the
plain traversed between Ab-i-Bid and Dizful; to its west lies a vast level plain as far as the
eye can reach. The soil is rich, but uncultivated ; it was formerly watered by a canal drawn
from the Kanin.
Vicinity of Dizful-
Dizful stands on the left bank of the Ab-i-Dizful in a
well cultivated plain, sloping very gradually upwards
to the hills, which are 15 miles distant from it in a northerly direction.
The Ab-i-Dizful, here unfordable, flows in a well defined bed, 500 yards wide,
Rlver between conglomerate cliffs, those of the right bank,
above stream, rising to a height of 40'; the cliffs on the
left bank are of less height and commanded, but the plain beyond them slop
ing gradually upwards, the command is soon lost, and the town stands out in
bold relief, both when viewed from the north as well as the south.
See pages olo, 349, for geology of the district and the road traversed to
Khoramdbdd.
The houses of the town are well built of stone or mud, chiefly the former;
Town roofs flat; the rooms are fairly lofty and spacious,
and built round a courtyard surrounded by high walls.
The majority of the houses are provided with “ sardabs ” [see page 345).
The outskirts of the town are in ruins ; the centre portion is well preserved ;
the streets are narrow and dirty, with a deep narrow centre rut adding to their
impassability. Carts could not traverse them; laden mules and donkeys with
difficulty pass each other. There is a sanitary feature of the towns of Muham
merah, Shustar, and Dizful worthy of note. It is that the streets are also open
Insanitary condition. d L raius and cess-pits. The latrines consist of openings in
the roofs of the houses communicating directly by
ducts through the outer walls with the streets. Persians seem not to object
to this insanitary state of affairs and to be unconscious of the odours arising
from it; for no less than three such outlets face the apartments of the palace