Page 13 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

PREFACE.

rpiiis Prdois nbstraots our rocords of political affairs of tlio plains of
JL Arabistan, the anoiontElnm and Anzan, watered by the Kerkha, Karun
and Joralii rivers. Onco the garden of the world and as modern discoveries
would go to show the indigenous homo of wheat and wino, it is still one of the
most fertilo provinces of Porsia—though capable of producing a hundred fold of
itsprosont crops with a proper systora of irrigation and much more a good Gov­
ernment. It is curious that this magnificently fertilo region was until recently
closed to the comraerco of the world. The piratical tendencies inter-tribal feuds
of the Arab settlers on tho mouths of its rivers and the jealousy of the Persians,
woro tho spirits and tho 11 flaming sword ” placed before the paradise of the
earth to keep it from tho approach of mankind outside its limits.
It is only tho ontorprise and diplomacy of tho British that has suocoeded
only recently in opening its largest river, tho ICarun, to tho commerce of tho
world. Yet much remains to bo done to rovivo its pristine prosperity.
Many a scheme has been put forward to rostoroits ancient irrigation works
or to start new ones, but only to be sholvcd in tho archives of Teheran.
In this Prdcis an attempt will be made to draw out as much as possible
out of tho correspondence in our rocords relative to those matters, especially
the Arab settlements, tho Karun river navigation, and the irrigation sohemes.
Such passages, as are intended to lay stress on, have been italicized.

let December 1903. J. A. SALDANA.

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