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‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎184v] (373/470)

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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832
From the river to Deh-Diz the present track is too steep for wheels.
From Deh-Diz, which has an altitude of 5,221 feet, the road rises to an
altitude of 6,400 feet in 4 miles. Descending to the Rudbar stream in 6 miles
to altitude 3,080 feet. Ascending above Ilillisat 6,900 feet, and descending
to Hillisat to altitude 4,850 feet in 4 miles.
From Ilillisat it has to rise over altitude 7,850 feet, to descend to Dupulan
altitude 4,950 feet. Here at Dupulan a 1,000 feet gorge has to be managed,
and the road carried thence over the ravine-cut plateau of Ardal through the
mountain Chokahor, and thence down into Chahar Mahal, altitude 6,700 feet.
Mr. Mackenzie crossed from Ardal vid Chokahor, and made the altitude of the
pass 8,350 feet. To follow the Kanin would be twice as long and just as
difficult. These altitudes are relatively, though not absolutely, correct [see
Part III anti page 309).
Comparison of the routes Shustar-Khoramdbdd and Shustar-Isfahan via Mdl-i-Mir
[Schindler)
The journey from Burujird via Khoramabad to Dizful was made by
Mr. Schindler at the command of the Shah with the object of discover
ing the best line for a system of telegraphs to follow. Finding it a diffi
cult route, and hearing that a line could be more easily laid between Shustar
and Isfahan, he made the latter journey in 1877, but found it to be much
more difficult than the former. Eventually the line was constructed along
the former route (Road Report No. 1).
Report ly Captain Wells of a journey made by him from Ahwdz to Shiraz, 1SS1.
Refer to pages 44 to 46.
Stage 1, December 3rd .—We left Ahwaz, population 300, elevation 200
Ahwaz to east side a.m. The weather was bitterly cold, and a
of Shaihkhe marsh, 27 dank fog lay over the country. There is a marked coolness
miles. Level plain with in the climate at Ahwaz as compared with that of the
no road, east by south. surrounding country. This is remarked by the natives,
who, like ourselves, are at a loss to account for it. We travelled across the
trackless plain of Ram-Hormuz in a direction a little south of east, and fol
lowed for many miles the base of the sandstone hills that trend away in that
direction, as described in my Ahwaz report [see page 182). The country
here is very fertile. No artificial irrigation is required. The Arabs till
soil enough for their own wants and no more. Sugar was grown here at one
time, though, I believe, with doubtful success. Millstones for crushing the
sugar are shown at Ahwaz to this day, and a strange story is told to account
for the disappearance of the trade. It is this. The sugar trade was doing
wonders at Ahwaz, and the sound of busy mills was heard on all sides, when
two wicked faringhis arrived from India. They saw the thriving place, and
with their knowledge of magic determined, in the interests of India, to de
stroy this rival business. They bought up all the sugar, stored it in a vast
warehouse in Ahwaz, and then sailed away. Strange to say, people were more
trustworthy in those days at Ahwaz than they are now, for, despite the con
tinued absence of the faringhis, the store of sugar was untouched for a year;
but when it was opened, terrible to relate, all the sugar was gone, and in its
place were crawling crowds of scorpions.

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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.’ [‎184v] (373/470), 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_100048990083.0x0000ae> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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