"تقرير عسكري عن جنوب غرب بلاد فارس، يتضمن أقاليم خوزستان (عربستان)، لورستان، وجزءًا من فارس" [‎٢‎٢] (٤٦٦/٤٩)

9 ,2
neight of 8,900 feet; towards its top, the gradient is very steep and snow lay
deep. There are no difficulties, however, other than what could be readily
removed by the expenditure of a little skilled labour. Persians seem to be
utterly ignorant of hill road making; blasting is never
Eoad making. resorted to; picks and crowbars are never used ; smooth
places are made smoother and wider, but all difficult passages over rock or
boulders are left untouched.
Ardal can be reached by a direct road in 3 or 4 stages from Isfahan;
the road via Deh-i-kurd was taken with the view of proceeding along the
upper Shustar-Isfahan road via Bazuft as far as Ali-Kuh. This was found,
even at this forward time of the year, impossible, on account of snow which
lay thick on the hills beyond Deh-i-kurd. Full en-
Tsfahan to Shiistarand q U i r i es W ere made to gain information of the two roads
joining Isfahan witlT Shustar from those who had
frequently made the journey and the ckdrwdddrs with the caravans met with
en route {see details, Fart 1V).
The party halted at Ardal on the 1st June, guests of the Ilkhani, who, by fur-
nishing a guide and giving letters to various Khans
Arda1, through whose territory the party was about to travel,
greatly facilitated its passage through these intricate and difficult hills.
Without guides as escort from the camp of one Iliyat tribe to another, it
would be impossible to get through the mountains, as there are practically no
villages and the road is often a mere single file mule track.
The Ilkhani congratulated me on my safe passage between Dizful and
Khoramabad, stating that he had not expected to see me
■ LTlrs, again alive, there having spread a rumour shortly after
my departure that the party had been robbed and massacred by the Lurs. He
smiled when he mentioned Hajji Air's name and naively remarked that the
Western Lurs could in no way compare with the Bakhtians in their respect
for life and property.
A Martini-Henry cavalry carbine was presented to the Tlkhani as a slight
recognition of the very valuable services that he had rendered to the party.
Between Ardal and Behbahan what few villages are met with en route are
most uninviting and the party preferred to bivouac rather than enter them.
Ardal to Bassaki. Leaving Ardal on the 2nd June, the following stages
were taken to Bassaki:—
2nd June Talibac
3rd „ Mardji^an
4th „ Ali or Khana Mirza
6th „ Bassaki
4 stages
Bassaki by the direct road to Isfahan via Kumesheh is distant from it 130
miles {see page 292).
The road throughout is a fair mule track, which can be easily made into
a good mule road. It passes over no greater elevation than 9,100 feet, for
a description of the country see page 287, part IV.
The scenery near the Tang-i-Dusabd, where the streams pass through
narrow clefts in the rock, is imposing; and here the surrounding hills are on a
massive and grand scale.
Miles.
Elevation.
22
7,900'
22
7,500'
26
6,300'
24
7,850'
94