south 65° west for lOf miles, by the Hafar canal, to the
Shatt. el Arab, through the rising commercial town of Mo-
hammerah; but at 7 f miles distance, and before it reaches
the town just mentioned, the derivation called the Bah-a-
Mishir takes place. This is a large navigable branch, running
31 miles from the Karun, in the general direction of
south 25° east to the Persian Gulf, but making a gentle curve
a little eastward of this line; which is, in fact, nearly parallel
to that of the Shatt el Arab, as will be seen by the Maps.
The next river to the eastward is the Jerahi, which waters
an extensive valley, abounding, at its upper extremity, with
fine oak and walnut trees, rhododendron, and wild vines,
besides pear, apple, and other fruit trees. The chief branch,
known as the Rudkhouch Kerdistan, springs from the Koh
Margoun, one of the Bakhtiyari range, at a spot about 14
fursucks to the north-east of Beibahoun. Its course is nearly1
south-west, and it passes the ruins of Kerdistan, where it
already has a breadth of about 350 feet. From thence, near
the ruins of Rhajoun, it flows through the pass of Tenk-y-
tucaub, into the plain of Beibahoun, about seven miles northwest
of the place which bears that name. This is a city of
about 10,000 inhabitants, containing a bazaar, two khans,
and well-built houses, with numerous orchards and gardens.2
From hence, with a deep and rapid course,3 the river takes
the direction of north 50° west, as far as Khaliph-abad, to the
south of Ram Hormuz, where it receives a tributary coming from
that place.4 This tributary5 is formed by two principal branches,
the more eastern of which rises in the great chain, a little
way to the north-east of the fort of Mungasht; and at a few
miles north-east of the agreeable little town of Roumiss (Ram
Hormuz), situated amidst gardens and orange groves,6 it is
joined by the western branch called the Abi-Zard,7 a consider-
1 Stocquelar’s Fifteen Months’ Pilgrimage through the Untrodden Tracts
of Khuzistdn and Persia, in 1831 and 1832.
3 Ibid.
3 MS. Journal of the Right Hon. SirR. Gordon, G.C.B., in 1812.
4 Ibid. 4 The Abi-Allah. 8 Ibid.
7 Major Rawlinson, Vol. IX. Part I | p. 79, of the Royal Geographical
Journal.
able stream, which comes from the same range to the point
of junction.
After the junction at Khaliph-abad, the Kerdistan river
flows a little more southward,1 and then, under the name of
the Jerahi, becomes not only navigable for country boats, hut
carries a large body of water in a S. S.W. direction towards
Dorak. At six miles from this town, the river makes a deep
short bend to the south; and a great diminution of its waters
takes place, in consequence of six irrigating canals being cut
from it, to fertilize the populous country stretching westward.
Part of the water thus diverted is carried into the
town, where it unites with the canal already mentioned as
coming from the Karun, near Sabla. This canal has been
mistaken for a branch of the Jerahi by those who have observed
that boats occasionally pass along it from one river to
the other.
On these canals, as well as on the minor branches derived
from the Jerahi, there are numerous villages,2 having communications
one with another, as well as with the chief town,
by means of curious suspension-bridges, or more properly
dykes, the ropes and links of which are made entirely of
reeds. Dorak, the capital of the district, is situated in a
marshy plain, and contains about 6000 inhabitants, who live
in houses built with sun-dried bricks, and having sloping
roofs. It is defended by a fort and a mud wall, and is surrounded
by date plantations. Commerce is carried on by
means of the canal with Mohammerah and Basrah, and the
people.sometimes call it Little Basrah.3
A few miles below the town the now diminished Jerahi
enters some marshes, in which another portion is lost, whilst
the remainder, under the name of Lusbah, makes its way, by
a southerly course, to the Persian Gulf. The stream here,
though very much reduced, is still navigable for boats.
The last river to be noticed is the Tab, which, however,
only in part belongs to Khuzistan, since it forms, in the
1 Major Rawlinson, Vol. IX. Part I., p. 79, of the Royal Geographical
Journal.
8 MS. of Lieut. ChaTlewood, R.N. 4 Ibid.