Notes Prepared for Reference during Curzon’s Tour of the Persian Gulf, and Other Papers on Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎310v] (620/678)

6
The other points sometimes closed by snow are the Godar-i-Barreh Mordeh and the
Shikeft-i-Diz. These, I am told, could easily be opened again without much delay.
Neither point is so high as several places on the road from Bushire to Tehran, and it is
rarely that this portion of the road is blocked for more than a few days. Use would soon
develop it here and at other points, and delays would become merely nominal.
To facilitate the use of the road and to render supplies procurable, it would be
necessary to build some few caravanserais. At Dopulan, Hilisat, and Pul-i-Amarat they
would be absolutely necessary, not only for the above reason, but for shelter for the
animals in winter. Shelters would also be necessary at points on the passes of the
Barreh Mordeh and about the Shikett-i-Diz. At the other various stages the present
occupants of the villages would build for their own profit as soon as they saw the road
was being used to any extent.
Beyond Mai Amir there is nothing to remark upon. The caravans now being sent
by Messrs. Lynch no longer have Shuster as a starting-point, but are dispatched from
Ahwaz, going via Ram Hormuz and thence to Kal’ah Tul and Mai Amir, thus obviating
the extra trouble entailed in transhipment to the boat for the Upper Karun, &c., with
out materially increasing the land carriage.
In making any arrangement for the opening of the road from Ispahan across the
Bakhtiari country, guarantees would have to be given either by the Bakhtiari Chiefs or
the Persian Government that due compensation for robberies would be given as is now
done on the Bushire-Tehran road. Against this, and for the expense entailed in
making the road practical, permission to charge a road tax would have to be given.
From Shuster to Tehran there is but little to be done to make the road a really
good one.
As I have shown, the bad places have at their worst points been ameliorated, a little
clearance of boulders and improvement of the road from the Balarud to the commence
ment of the newly-made portion of the Kialan Pass and the last part of the descent to
the Takht-i-Chun is all that is necessary, always excepting the restoration of the bridge
at Shuster to facilitate caravan traffic, as in times of flood the river there is for some
days impassable.
Caravanserais have been made along the line at such points as are requisite; all that
is now wanted is to place in them caretakers and the necessary supplies.
The main deterrent to the use of this road is the robbing Lurs, who hitherto have
kept it in a disturbed state. The remedy for this is in the hands of the Central
Government. Strong, just, and liberal-minded Governors in Arabistan and Luristan
would do all that is needful to this end.
Under such conditions there is no reason, that I can see, why this road, should not
become as much used and as well known as the present one between Bushire and
Tehran. Restoration of the telegraph line from Dizful to Khorremabad and a renewal
of post-horses would also be effective, but the first consideration is to keep the Lurs in
proper subjection.
Pilfering there may continually be, that is always going on, even on the main road,
but absolute stoppage and looting of caravans, which up to the last few months was
practically unknown on the Bushire-Tehran road, should be put a stop to ; then merchants
will gain confidence, and will be glad to use the road, especially as now the main one has
acquired an unenviable notoriety in that respect, also as owing to a murrain among the
carrying animals in the south of Persia, hire has become very high, and so put the British
quite out of the running in the competition with the Russian merchant in the northern
m q fir
(Signed) J. R. PREECE.
Ispahan, October 24, 1895.