‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎104r] (212/470)

205
Route No. 1— contd.
From Mnhammerahto Tehran, fyc. —contd.
Distances in
o .
MILES.
Remarks.
I 2
Time.
Names of towns, villages, &c.
Interme-
Total.
*5
diate.
Kubbed or Kuh-i-Kabir, a range of barren steep bills, much cut up by deep crevices ; the
range is said to extend to the vicinity of Baghdad. The dip of the hill strata is great.
A mile south of the camp the Ab-i-Zal falls into the Saimarrah stream, which Hows from
„ . the westward on a general bearing of 305°, and here breaking
arknah river. through the Kuh-i-Kubbed finds its way, as the Karkhah river,
past Hawizah into the Tigris.
After leaving the Kal’a-ltezza valley, it winds for many miles amongst the low conglomer
ate bills, running parallel with the Kuh-i-Kabir. At its entrance into the plain, 20 to 30 miles,
to the north-west of Dizful, are the remains of a bridge known as the Pai-Pul. During the
summer months the river is fordable below the bridge. On account of the rapidity of the
stream caravans prefer to cross it at the Twan-i-Karkhah, where the river divides into
several branches. Near Daniel’s tomb it flows within 5 miles of the Ab-i-Di/.fiil. The river
formerly flowed through Hawizah into the Shatt-al-Arab, and was navigable for boats of some
size as far as that town. In 1837, owing to the giving way of the band above Hawizah,
the river deserted its old course and divided into innumerable small streams, which collected
together again only 8 miles from its mouth. The river is only navigated now by beilams
(see page 49). — (Layard).
Several remains of masonry bridges mark the attempts made to bridge the Ab-i-Zal. The
Lurs have hitherto destroyed all bridges, caravanserais, &c., &c., constructed on this line
through their hills (see page 170).
The valley is destitute of trees and firewood. By bringing trees from long distances,
after two days’ labour the tribe contrived to throw a rough bridge across the stream, at a point
where rocks contracted it to a width of from 15 to 20 feet.
General Remarks .—A forced march was made from Dizful to the Ab-i-Zal to avoid the Lur
robbers who infested the country. After dark to 2-30 a.m. the light of the moon sufficed to
enable the near surrounding country to be seen. After the moon set to dawn, a succession
of difficult ravines were crossed, which were, however, traversed by the laden mules with ease in
the dark. Caravans could halt either at the Balarud or on any of the ridges crossed. Water
and pasture is plentiful everywhere. Reeds grow in the ravines and furnish firewood. The
plateau selected as stage No. 10 is the best suited for an encampment of any size being a mile
or more broad. The amount of road-making to be done (zigzagging into and out of ravines)
between a few miles to the south of Kal’a Hussaineh and the Bidruge plain will exceed that
in any other equal distance on the line of this passage through the hills. The remaining por
tions of the road present no great difficulties.
N.B .—When De Bode made this journey, he crossed the limestone hills or Kuh-i-Gach
in 2 hours after fording the Balarud, and reached Kir-ab, beyond the Bidruge plain, in 3 hours.
7th April 1SS4.
At 8-30 a.m. the barometer read 28'9" and the thermometer C2°. Slight rain.
8th April 1884.
At 7 a.m. the barometer i'ead 2S■9 ,, and the thermometer 62 . Few drops of rain.
The road crosses the Ab-i-Zal, in flood,
by the rough bridge of trees above referred
to. Descent into and out of the bed of the
river very bad, over huge boulders ; horses
nust be led, and broad loads earned across. . .. . . ,
Crosses the stony bed of the valley ; poor grazing ; undulates into and out ot nullahs with
>ad crossings.
12-30
Ab-t-Zal (Camp)
218
(elevation 1 , 200 ').