lower portion of its course, the line of separation between
this province and that of Fars. The eastern and larger
branch comes from Fars, and is formed by the junction of
the Harharas with the Rudkhonick-Shir, and other affluents,
at a spot about 20 miles W.N.W. of Shiraz. Its course
is north-west as far as the considerable village of Fa’i-
lioun, from whence, much diminished by irrigation, it runs
nearly west to Zehitoun, and there it receives the Keir-abad
river, or Tab1 branch, which comes thither along the borders
of Fars, by a W.S.W. course, passing eight miles eastward of
Be'ibahun. The river, now of considerable size, preserves a
western course as far as Indian, a town of about 4000 inhabitants
; up to which, when ascended by Lieut. Whitelocke,
of the Indian navy, in 1836, it was found to be navigable for
boats of twenty tons. From hence the river inclines more
southward, and has a tortuous course through an alluvial
soil to the Persian Gulf: an extensive population have their
dwelling on its banks.
Although, like the rest of the province, belonging to
Persia, the southern portion of Khuzistan (anciently Cissia),
which extends westward almost from the Indian to the
Kerkhah, may in some degree be considered as a separate
government under the Sheikh of Ka’b (Chaab), who pays a
moderate annual tribute, in lieu of all taxes, to the shah.
This chief derives his income from the goods imported through
Mohammerah, as well as from the extensive rice-grounds and
fine date-plantations along the Shatt el Arab, Karun, and
Jerahi. He also draws a revenue from the manufacturers of
the thriving town of Dorak, which is his principal residence.
The Beiglerbeggie of the province resides almost entirely in
Dizful, though the capital is Shuster. The latter city contains
about 20,000 inhabitants, and probably between 5000
and 6000 houses, partly in ruins. These cover an elevated
and insulated piece of ground, extending from the left bank of
the western Karun to the right bank of the eastern branch.
Within its dilapidated walls there is, on the western side, a
castle overlooking the fine bridge constructed by Shapur, and
1 The Masan of Abu-l-feda.—Translation by Mr. Rassam.
the ancient excavations at its western extremity. A little way
northward of the city, at the bifurcation of the river, is the
famous reservoir called Shadarwan, with the bridge of
Shapur, and several deep and fine khanats, which will be
hereafter noticed.
In addition to the care of cattle, which is the prevailing
occupation, agriculture is carefully attended to, and the quantity
of tobacco, rice, and other grain (especially barley) produced
along the banks of the rivers, is considerable. Some
cotton is likewise grown; and in the district of Ahwaz,,sugar
was abundant at no very distant period. On the lower parts
of the Karun and Kerkhah, as well as in the Chaab country,
dates are sufficiently abundant to be an article of commerce.
In addition to the bitumen and naphtha of Bandi-Kir, Dara-
napth, &c., tents, red cloth, coarse woollens, and some cottons,
are manufactured; the last chiefly at Dizful, where dyeing is
extensively practised. Large flocks of sheep, with a portion
of goats, camels, horses, and mules, are to be seen on all the
rich pasture-grounds of Susiana.
Occasionally permanent walled villages are met with ; but
the greatest part of the inhabitants live in tents, which are
of a large size, being supported by a number of poles, in
parallel rows, lessening in height from the ridge towards the
sides, which are very low. This kind of tent is more commodious
than that which is in use in other parts of Persia, or in
Arabia. In the latter country, more frequent changes of residence
render one of a lighter and smaller construction necessary.
Khuzistan represents the Susiana of Strabo,1 as well as
the Cissia of Herodotus.2 Towards the eastern frontiers are
the ruins of Rhajoun and Kerdistan in the centre, those of
Agings (probably represented by Ahwaz) towards the west;
Rudbar, Seimarrah, Badaca, and I’wani-Kerkh on the
Kerkhah; and finally, near the latter stream, are those of
Sus, Susan or Shushan,3 the ancient capital. Sus is the
Persian as well as the Hebrew name for the lily, a flower
which abounded near this winter residence of the Assyrian
1 Lib. XV., p. 121. 8 Lib. V., c. lii.
8 “ I was at Shushan, in the palace.”—Daniel viii. 2.