'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia: About 1889-1890' [‎690r] (1400/1486)

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THE KARUN RIVER.
Persia is a land of mountains, and the Karun is its only navigable river.
It rises in the Zarda Kuh, about thirty miles to the south west of Ispahan.
A few miles above the ruins of “Shusan the Palace,” now inhabited by der
vishes and wild beasts, it becomes a large and rapid stre; m ; and a short
distance below it forces a way through a precipitous gorge. Here are the
remains of a once magnificent bridge built by Kaianian kings. On this part
of its course not even a raft can be floated on the Karun. On emerging
from the mountains, however, it becomes a broad placid stream ; and from
here to its mouth it would be perfectly navigable the whole way,
were it not for the dam at Shuster and the rapids of Awaz. The
city of Shuster was built, according to tradition, by Shapor’s Roman cap
tives; and the traveller is still shown the tower where the Emperor Valerian
was confined. The dam at Shuster is of masonry, 20 ft. broad and
200 ft. long, with a couple of small arches half-way across. Built for
the purposes of irrigation, it is described by Sir John Malcolm as “almost
the only work of a useful nature amid those vast ruins which bespeak
the pomp and magnificence of the monarchs of Persia; and it has, as if
preserved by its nobler character, survived all the sumptuous palaces and
luxurious edifices of the same age.” Some forty years ago, Captain Selby
ascended the Karun in the Indian steamer Assyria to within four miles of
Shuster. The rapids at Awaz proved the only natural obstacle to the
voyage; and Captain Selby was inclined to pronounce most favourably on
the route. Writing at a date when our Persian policy was animated by
somewhat different motives to those which inspire it now, he said : —
The Shusteris’ leaning to the English ; their hatred of the Tersians, who by their
tyrannous oppressions and exactions have well earned it ; the proximity of Shuster to
India, which, thanks to steam, can now be made at any season a journey of at most
eighteen days ; the greatest facility offered by vast quantities of wood all along the banks
-all combine to point out Shuster as the point from which we might easily pour an
unlimited force into the heart of the country. Naturally strong, being completely
isolated, Shuster might in our hands become a thorn in Persia’s side which she could
never eradicate. From Shuster to the interior of Persia there are five roads practicable
for heavily laden animals and even for guns.
Between Awaz and the pott of Mohammera the river passage is quite easy;
and some ten years ago the Persian Governor of Mohammera, Sheikh
Haji Jabar Khan, bought a river steamer of 120 tons, built by Yarrows,
and ran her at irregular intervals up to Awaz and back. In 1S81 Captain
Wells, R.E,, made a report on the rapids at Awaz. He considered that to
open a passage by blasting would do more harm than good, and tecom-
mended that a canal should be dug with two locks. The other alter
native was to place a second steamer above the rapids, and transship;
and this the Governor of Mohammera was willing to undertake, pro
vided he could obtain the Shah's sanctioa The Persian Government,