‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎172r] (348/470)

807
Route No. 4 — contd.
’From Isfahan to Behhahdn and Bandar-Dildtn, 8fc. —contd.
o
Distances in
miles.
.D tE
II
Time.
Names of towns, villages, &c.
I diate le "| Total -
Eemarks.
The for the Behbaluin line of trade are Hindiyan and Dilam. The Hindiyan
stream is navigable for light boats and canoes to within a short distance of Behbahan.
Trade from the two entrepots converges at Zeitun. Goods go up by land, passing through
Deh-Miila and Arab to Zeitun by a level road.
Behbahan was governed during 1877-78-79-80 by the Ihtisham-nl-Daulat, son of
Ferhad Mirza, who, till the spring of 1882, was Prince Governor A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925). of Pars. During his
administration the turbulent tribes in the neighbourhood were subdued, and the i - oad to
Isfahan was improved and rendered safe. He was rapacious and ruthless, and held in great
fear. Whenever the Persians allude to the present insecurity of the road between Dizful
and Khoramabad, they allude to the services of the Ihtisham-ul-Daulat in suppressing the
Kiihgehlu tribes, and recommend that he should be sent to carry out a like worx in Luristan.
There is no doubt that such a man would soon render the country perfectly safe. He ruth
lessly exacted life for robbery as well as life, caring little whether the proper life were taken—
a method of procedure well calculated to cause the tribes themselves to suppress lawlessness
{see page 170). For road to Shiraz, distant 171 miles, see page 336 and lievised Gazetteer
of Persia, Routes.
a.m. i 14th June 18S4.
17
3-45 I Behbahan
j Longitude 50° 25' E.
[ Latitude 3u° 33' 30" N.
lies fallow; in others grass grows.
4-15
367
Barometer 28■2' , ; thermometer 7<>°
(outside the town). The road 30' broad,
with a hard surface, traverses the plain in
a southerly direction ; in places the seal
Passes a rausjid.
4-45 ... ... Country becomes undulating and Wok
en ; soil, a stony clay, now somewhat
barren.
4-55 ... ... Ground hummocky, undulating, and
covered with stones and pebbles which
make it heavy going.
6- 35 ... ... Passes an Imamzada and a few huts ;
there is here a well of good water, a little
cultivation, and a trickle of water.
Winds now amidst low barren and
broken hills of soft sandstone and clay ;
it is often narrow ; in places ledges and
steps of rock have to be crossed.
7- 45 ... ... Crosses a trickle of water ; barometer
27-95" (1,400').
9-15 ... ... Descends out of the range of broken
hills; the first descent is narrow (2' to 3'
wide) ; steep, ^ to yV ; stony and difficult
for 600 yards; it then becomes more gentle,
finally reaching the plain after a second descent similar to the first.
The road is so winding and undulating, and the view so limited whilst traversing this
low belt of sandstone hills, that to keep a correct survey of it was impossible; its general
direction was judged to be 195°.
Its watercourses are dry; all the pools of water along them are bitter (see page 44).
After winding through the outer belt of low undulations emerges into the flat valley of
the Zeitun river, also known as the Hindiyan or Zoreh (see page 46)
11-15
Imamzada and a few huts surrounded
by palm trees.
The valley has a pleasing appearance,
being dotted with villages surrounded by