'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎570r] (1141/1386)

TEHRAN.
5
journey to Dizful at less than three times the ordinary rates of
elsewhere. We thus learnt one of the causes for this route benig
little used by traders, and then only by a few occasionally
bringing on to Khoremabad and its vicinity small consignments of
goods purchased below when the market is glutted with imported
wares, and prices fall unusually low.
As to the danger to caravans in passing through these hills. I Lurs.
am inclined to believe that the Lurs are now content to abandon
robbery with violence in favour of payments and contributions
from timid traders and travellers. They hang upon the rear of a
caravan ; an accident, a fallen or strayed pack animal, or stragglers
in difficulty bring them to the spot, and, on the pretence of
assistance given, a demand is made for money, in lieu of which,
on fear or hesitation being shown, they obtain such articles as
they take a fancy to. In this manner they took garments from
two of our followers who were far behind, but on the alarm being
given, and reprisal made by capture of a mare belonging to one
of the Lur party, the stolen things were amicably returned.
The tribes through whose limits the road runs have annual
allowances for protecting it, but it is a question whether these are
regularly paid. It can hardly be expected that the same system of
deferred and reduced payments, which unfortunately prevails in the
Persian public service, should be accepted patiently by a starving
people, who have long been given to predatory habits, and this
may account for occasional disturbance. They probably find it
difficult to understand why payment of taxes should be mercilessly
exacted from them, while their allowances remain unpaid. It is
generally believed that they would take readily to work if fairly
t reated and honestly paid, and I was told that for the construction
of the proposed cart-road there would be no difficulty in getting
labourers from the neighbouring Lur tribes.
• • • •
Very little has been done to improve the road in Luristan
along which we travelled. Attempts have been made here and
there to clear and build up the track, but all has been done piece
meal, and without relation to any regular plan. Undoubtedly the
track along which the telegraph line passes would never be
adopted for a commercial cart-road. From the Khoremabad side
the ascents are steep and stiff, and on the other the descents are
too deep and difficult to allow of a cart-road being made, except
at very great cost.
But we had favourable accounts of what is known as the Prbable line
( chul ” route, which turns the high ranges, and joins the existing for cart road,
mule track about 30 miles from Dizful. There are said to be but
few rough rises on this route, and the wheeled artillery I saw at
Ahwaz, two 9-pounder field pieces, were stated to have been
brought along it without much difficulty. It is used for mules
laden with large and inconveniently sized loads. Mr. Macqueen
tdso learnt that a.continuation of this chul route to join the track
passing from Dizful to Kermanshah, about 20 miles up, would
give a still further improvement. This route altogether would
probably make about 50 or 60 miles more than the direct road