"دليل بلاد فارس. مجلد III. جزء I: من A إلى K" [ظ‎‎٤‎١‎٨] (١٢٧٨/٨٤١)

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it issues from the hills ; in other wards the length of this section is about 3d
miles and its direction is from east-south-east to west-north-west. Here
the Zaidan flows with a breadth of about 70 yards and a strong current of
3| miles an hour through the Zaidan plain, a valley, 5 miles wide, governed
from Behbehan, and enclosed between a northern ani a southern range of
hills ; the former has an elevation of about 1,500 feet, and the latter, which
is the subsidiary maritime range forming the island boundary of the Liravl
district, of about 1,000. The caravan route from Bandar Dilam to Beh
behan crosses the river near Cham Zaidan, where there are two or three
fords : the bottom there is shingly and good, but the strength of the current
necessitates care in crossing with laden animals. The average depth here
is from 3 to 4 feet, and the current runing at 3| to 4 miles an hour over a
firm, shigly bottom. In February, however, Lieutenant-Colonel Bell found
it hard to cross. He says : “At this season the river is both deep and rapid
and it is necessary to pass up stream about 3 miles and to ford it to the
south-west of the village Sardasht, where it flows in three channels; its
right banks are low and pebbly ; its bed is covered with boulders ; its
width is from 600 to 800 yards ; the deepest channel is about 3 feet
8 inches deep ; it must be forded with care ; its right bank is fringed by
a belt of low bushes ; its left bank is elevated 20 to 30 feet above the
stream. There are a few huts and a little cultivation close at hand on
the left bank near the ford. ” The valley hereabouts is well cultivated,
wheat being the staple product ; a considerable quantity of rice is also
grown. Cham Zaidan is situated mile north of the right bank of the
river.
The villages and other notable places in the Zaidan plain are given in
the article 5£ Zaidan, “ vide this Gazetteer.
Cham Zaidan is at present (1905) the headquarters of the representative
of the Shaikh of Muhammareh in this district. The total population of
the valley is 3,000 souls, distributed in small hamlets containing from 50 to
200 inhabitants each, the chief being Zaidan, Sardasht, and Askari, the
latter being situated close to the confluence of the two streams form
ing the Hindian river, and some 6 miles east of Zaidan. Opposite Lunjlr
which is on the left bank of the river some 14 miles below Cham Zaidan,
the river throws off an artificial canal which, circling round to the west-
north-west and then to the west-south-west, passes the villages of Cham
Charata, Upper Gargari, Lower Gargari, and Asrab ; and reaches Suvaireh,
there to be absorbed by numerous small distributaries, when on the point
of rejoining the main stream.
The Lower or Hindian course of the river begins between the village of
Ghuleh and the Hindian village of Shirabad. It is doubtful whether Ghuleh
belongs to Hindian or Behbehan. The stream now, turning the north end
of Funnel Hill, emerges on the open plains of the Hindian district. From
Shirabad it runs first for 5 miles west-north-west to Suvaireh ; it then turns,
and its average direction from Suvaireh to Hindian village, a distance of
22 miles in a straight line, is due southwards. Passing Kut and Deh Mulla
4 miles below which are a village and a small boat-ferry, the river con
tinues southwards until Hindian town, which stands on both banks of
the river, is reached. At Hindian town the river is unfordablc, the breadth