'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia' [‎570v] (1142/1386)

6
PERSIA.
between Khoremabad and Dizful. It will now be thoroughly
examined by Mr. Macqueen on his return journey. It is said to
pass through good pasture lands, and ground favourable for
cultivation and settlement purposes, the grant of which to a
certain extent round about the caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). stations is one of the
advantages secured in the road concession. It is believed that
with liberal treatment the nomad Lurs may be induced to locate
themselves round the serais, and take to agriculture as well as
road work.
Dizful (157 We reached Dizful on December 7. The very ancient
miles from Dizful bridge over the Diz stream was broken last year by a high
Khoremabad). flood, but has been temporarily repaired to allow of free traffic to
the town. The caravan trade with Amarah, on the Tigris (by
four long stages), is still carried on notwithstanding Turkish
customs troubles, but it is gradually falling away to Mohamrah.
At present the export of wheat is prohibited, but this was said to
be merely temporary and precautionary against the possibility of
winter crop failure, the usual rain being then overdue. Heavy
rain, however, fell during my stay there, and doubtless the
prohibition has been removed. Mr. Holland, Messrs. Lynch’s
agent at Shuster, informed me of his wheat purchases having been
temporarily stopped, but he expected an early return to free
market operations. I learnt from others that wheat cultivation
has largely extended between Dizful and Shuster and in the
vicinity. In fact, one informant stated the increase this season to
be tenfold. The old indigo industry of Dizful continues to be
carried on, and the dye is largely exported to the north of Persia.
I left Dizful on December 10. Halting that day at Kovnek,
I was met by Khoda Karm Khan, Bakhtiari, a relative of the
Ilbegi, Isfendiar Khan, who is posted there with 100 Bakhtiari
horsemen to guard the road, and be ready for service on the
neighbouring Turkish border. He came about 4 miles with his
men to meet me. I was struck with the good appearance of the
troop—men and horses. I was also met here by Naval Sartip
Ahmad Khan, of the “ Persepolis," then lying at Mohamrah, the
only vessel of war belonging to Persia. The Sartip remained
with me during my stay in Arabistan.
Shuster I reached Shuster on December 11, and stayed there four
3szmilesfrom days. The Governor, the Nizam-us-Sultaneh, made me thoroughly
430 mi les from welcome, and I was treated everywhere, under his orders, in the
Tehran). most complimentary and hospitable manner. This was equally
the case at Burujird, Khoremabad, and elsewhere throughout my
journey.
The Nizam-us-Sultaneh is said to be an able ruler.
Valeriana Shuster has suffered heavily by the break in its ancient bridge,
known as Valerian's. Several of its arches were carried away by
an unusually high flood in the spring of 1885, and the bank on
which the bridge rested was burst. The water-level being thus
lowered by the river flowing through the break, the Miyan-ab
canal on the left bank was emptied, and the large tract of fertile
land south of Shuster being deprived of its irrigation, became.