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‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎155r] (314/470)

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. .

Transcription

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273
35
Route No. 4.
From Isfahan to Behbahan and Bandar-Dilam through the KduGEHLtj
Hills.
o
Distances in
miles.
z If
il
>5
Time.
Names of towns, villages, &c.
Interme
diate.
Total.
Remarks.
A.M.
27th May 18S4.
6-45
Julfa (Armenian
suburb) of Isfahan,
(elevation 5,400').
...
Temperature 70°.
The streets of Julfa are narrow, and
only admit of narrow mule loads ; many
! of its lanes are entered by narrow gate-
i ways ; closed at night; narrow canals
lined by poplars, mulberry shrubs, low elms, &c, run down tbe centre or sides of the
majority of them. The houses built round courtyards, into which they open, and many
of which are ornamented by gardens well stocked with flowers and well watered, are sur
rounded by high mud walls, which give the place a most uninviting appearance. The houses
are well built of mud bricks ; walls 4' to 5' thick ; they are commodious, and the plaster
ornamental work of many is in excellent taste. Drinking-water is obtained from wells ; sup
plies, plentiful and cheap (see page 113). Plums, melons, grapes, peaches, cucumbers, lettuce,
&c., are of excellent quality and abundant in season, so much so, that fruits form, at times,
a staple food of the population. The red and white wines made here are of excellent quality,
and grapes are so abundant and cheap that horses are fed upon them. The mulberry grows
about Isfahan, and silk is produced.
Leaving Julfa tbe road passes through fields of poppy, coni, barley, &c. ; it is 50' wide
and liimd by high mud walls; to its left are the ruins of a city ; young willows grow by the
road side.
7-15
7-35
7-45
8-10
road, broad, and its surface hard. The line <
dens, pigeon towers, &c. This cultivated be
as that as the Lower Lanjiin; it conta
may be considered to be well populated,
broad. The villages in size resemble those
... ! Passes the Prince’s garden ; the river
I valley is richly cultivated. The melons
grown about Isfahan are noted for their
excellent flavour.
... Passes between two detached bills.
... The ruined city extends to this point ;
barometer 24‘7' (5,400').
... | Pass a sphynx-like rock. The low hills
! are close to the left; to the right they are
| 6 to 7 miles distant, and between them
| lies the flat river valley ; soil, gravelly ;
: the river, 1 mile distant, is marked by fruit gar-
is from 2 to 3 miles broad. The district is known
is from 300 to 400 villages, and for Persia
The Lanjun district is 70 miles long by 40 miles
etween Isfahan and Burujird (see page 250).
8-20
• • •
...
The river is 1-| miles distant, and its
general direction 245°. Water, in deep
narrow canals, is brought down from the
hills to the left.
8-30
...
The river is | a mile distant to the
right.
8-40
The belt of river cultivation is entered ;
fields of wheat, barley, and beans, Ac.,
all well irrigated ; soil, clay ; swamps
occur’, due to defective irrigation chan
nels.

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.’ [‎155r] (314/470), 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_100048990083.0x000073> [accessed 23 April 2024]

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