"تقرير عسكري عن جنوب غرب بلاد فارس، يتضمن أقاليم خوزستان (عربستان)، لورستان، وجزءًا من فارس" [‎٣‎٠‎٧] (٤٦٦/٣٥٢)

807
R oute N o. 4— contd.
From Isfahan to Behhahdn and Bandar-Dildm, fyc. —contd.
o
D istances itt
miles.
Number
Stage.
Time.
Names of towns, villages, &c.
Interme
diate.
Total.
Eemarks.
The ent repots for the Behbahan line of trade are Hindiyan and Dilam. The Hindiyan
stream is navigable for light boats and canoes to within a short distance of Behbahan.
Trade from the two entrepots converges at Zeitun. Goods go np by land, passing through
Peh-Mula and Arab to Zeitun by a level road.
Behbahan was governed during 1877-78-79-80 by the Ihtisham-nl-Danlat, son of
Ferhad Mirza, who, till the spring of 1882, was Prince Governor of Fars. During his
administration the turbulent, tribes in the neighbourhood were subdued, and the road to
Isfahan was improved and rendered safe. He was rapacious and ruthless, and held in great
fear. Whenever the Persians allude to the present insecurity of the road between Dizful
and Khoramabad, they allude to the services of the Ihtisham-uI-Daulat in suppressing the
Kuhcehlu tribes, and recommend that he should he sent to carry out a like work in Luristan.
There is no doubt that such a man would soon render the country perfectly safe. He ruth
lessly exacted life for robbery as well as life, caring little whether the proper life were taken—
a method of procedure well calculated to cause the tribes themselves to suppress lawlessness
(seepage 170). For road to Shiraz, distant 171 miles, see page 336 and ^Revised Gazetteer
of Persia, Boutes.
a.m. 14th June 1884.
17
3-45
B ehbahan
Longitude 50° 25' E.
, Latitude 30° 33' 30" N
lies fallow; in others grass grows.
4-15
4-45
4-55
6-35
7-45
9-15
367 Barometer 28 , 2' / ; thermometer 70°
(outside the town). The road 30' broad,
with a hard surface, traverses the plain in
a southerly direction ; iu places the soil
Passes a musjid.
Country becomes undulating and brok
en ; soil, a stony clay, now somewhat
barren.
Ground hummocky, undulating, and
covered with stones and pebbles which
make it heavy going.
Passes an Imamzada and a few huts ;
there is here a well of good water, a little
cultivation, and a trickle of water.
Winds now amidst low barren and
brolun hills of soft sandstone and clay ;
it is often narrow ; in places ledges and
steps of rock have to be crossed.
Crosses a trickle of water ; barometer
27-95' / (1,400').
Descends out of the range of broken
hills; the first descent is narrow (2' to 3'
wide) ; steep, J to ; stony and difficult
for 600 yards; it then becomes more gentle,
finally reaching the plain after a second descent similar to the fiyst. , , o . ,i •
The road is so winding and undulating, and the view so limited .wh^tYaversmgths
low belt of sandstone hills, that to keep a correct survey of it was impossible; its geneial
direction was iudgedto be 195°. , ^
Its watercourses are dry; all the pools of water along them are hi er (^ p ^ 2oiip V n f
After winding through the outer belt of low undulations emei ges m o e y
the Zeitun river, also known as the Hindiyan 01 and a few huts surrounded
J-»••••• ••• # * # - , .
by palm trees.
The valley has a pleasing appearance,
being dotted with villages surrounded by