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‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎178r] (360/470)

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. .

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319
passing through their country, and were overheard saying “the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran.
is letting us go to the dogs, bringing foreigners with fat caravans through
our hills, and not letting us take anything from them.” No doubt many of
the mountaineers did not understand that we were not Persians and Mussul
mans. Frequently Mr. Baring and myself were addressed as“hajji” or
“ mirza,” or even as “Ambassador of the Shah.” Mr. Baring's companion on
a shooting expedition found fault with him for not saying his prayers, &c.
2 (a) Dupulan, 5,672 feet, lies at the junction of the Ab-i-Kaj or Ab-f-
Rang and the Ab-i-Sabz, both bridged. There are here the ruins of the masonry
bridges that formerly spanned the stream and give the name to the village.
The river banks are thickly covered with tamarisk bushes. The Ab-f-Kaj or
Rang is the Karun (see map); a few miles from Dupulan it is joined by the
Beshtabad stream from Kahv-i-Rukh. The Ab-i-Sabz flows through the Nau-
gun valley, breaking through the Tang-i-Ardal. Crossing the Ab-i-Sabz and
the Ab-i-Kaj, 5,442 feet, the road undulates to the Ab-i-Sard, and thence
rises gently to the Gandum Kal Pass, 7,940 feet. Descending beyond it
Gandum Kal is reached, at a distance of 102 miles; road difficult (Schindler).
For description of the road by Mr. Schindler to Hillisat, see paragraph
3 («)•
Stage 3, November 12th .—The Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. presses us politely to stay with him
Hillisat to Rudbar for a at saying that afterwards he will
river, 15 miles, not diffi- accompany us to Mal-i-Mir ; but, apart from the loss of
cult till about Rudbar the time that would be incurred, I am not anxious to
river wbere a prce^itous excite his anger by letting him see me surveying, and
bluff has to be scrambled J „ ..Jo*,
down. Direction west already my map has suftered from my having to work
by south. Supplies very more or less cautiously. At our farewell visit we sit
scarce, except tirewood. around a blazing fire under a camel hair tent, any one
who likes listening to the conversation. The Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. talks much in a loud
voice to Mr. Baring on the state of Europe. Then concerning Russia and
the murder of the Czar, of her doings with China in Kuldja, which leads to
the subject of our war with China, and a discussion with regard to our sepoys Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. ,
of whom he has a very erroneous opinion, and evidently was astonished when
I described their prowess and daring, and was amused at my excitement
when speaking of Sikhs and Gurkhas. Ayub is again brought under discus
sion; and “ what are you going to do when Russia comes to Herat?” is the
leading question. The Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. is wonderfully well up in contemporary poli
tics, and undoubtedly a shrewd man, covering under his bluff patriarchal
exterior a considerable amount of common sense. He renews the invitation of
his nephew Abbas Kuli that I should come and stay with them next summer.
At 8-30 we leave camp accompanied by two retainers charged to see to
our being properly treated whilst in the Bakhtiari country; and well they
executed their duty. About a mile from camp we were overtaken by a
horseman, who proves to be one of the servants to whom we had given a pre
sent. He said he was in danger of the “ sticks ” for having taken our money,
insisted on returning it, and begged for a note from us stating that he had
done so.
From Hillisat a steep mountain is ascended, altitude 6,900 feet, another
offshoot from the mighty Garreh. It has to be crossed, and its southern
slope descended to the valley of the Rudbar stream. The top of this offshoot
was of rolling country covered with fine oaks. The road good and open.
Here and there the nomads were tilling the ground under the forest trees,
or shaking down the acorns which they pound and mix with flour to eke out

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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.’ [‎178r] (360/470), 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_100048990083.0x0000a1> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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