Page 52 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

36
Appendix II.

Report by Captain J2, Wells, R. E, on the Ahtoaz Canal.

Notos by Captain Hxeit L. VIilib, E. 32., on tours in Persia in 1881.
The natural obstruction to tbo Navigation of the Karan River at Almaz as seen on Decembor
1st, 1881.
It will be soon by the sketch forwarded with this paper that, as the Karim approaches
Ahwaz, its oourse is divided into two parts by an island marked I. 1. On plan No. 4 the
branoh to tho west onrrics about ono-tkird of tho Btroam, whilst that to the cast has the
other two-thirds. The lattor is deep and navi^ablo for boatB or flats of from 1 feet to 4 feet 4
inches draught, and this is tho oaso with tho Tivor up-stream as fas as Beud-i-Kir.
2. At Bond-i-Kir is tho junction of 1hreo stroams, vis., tho Dizful river on the west, the
Karun from Shuster io tho centre, and Gargur or the stream diverted from the Kamo above
Shuster (and regulated by tho Kaiser Bundj on tho east. Theso throe combined are about iOO
yard® wido.
3. Tho Dizful river, as seen 10 milos below tho town of Dizful, is a rapid stream with a
variable course over stony pubblo bod and quite unnavigable. At Bond-i-Kir it is about 70
yards wide at their conflueuco.
4. The Korun just below Shuster is not navigable, and this is said to be the case with it
tho whole way upwards from Bind-i-Kir whoro it is 80 yards wido.
6. The " Kaisor Dund" or Gargar stream is 60 yjrds wido at Bend-i-Kir whore it joins
the Karun and is over 6 feet, and probably as much as 10 feet in depth. It is said to be
navigable for large boats close up to Shusler. It has a slow placid stream which is the case
of the combined river below Bend-i-Kir, though its banks showed in December marks of floods
6 feet above the then level of the river.
0. The combined river at “ Weis” half-way between Bond-i-Kir and Ahwaz measured
288 yards in width. The banks of alluvial silt are throughout 20 feet above the water, and
admirably adapted for towing gangs who would tow craft by means of ropes attached to their
masts as is done in Bengal when the rivers are low.
7. To return to Ahwbz. Below the island mentioned in paragraph 1, the river only
unites in a stream to be immediately confronted by the obstruction which I will now de6oribe
in detail.
8. A ridge of sandstone which emerges from the Ram Horrnut plain some 20 miles west
by south of Ahwaz here approaches the .river, and apparently it is greatly due to this ridge of
rock that the river presents the navigable aspect, it dot's for so many miles abovo Ahwaz. The
rocks form a complete weir across the stream whioh, flowing as best it can over the numerous
out-crops, falls at least 0 feet in three-fourths of a mile of its course. Were it not for this weir,
it is doubtful if the nature of the river would not be entirely different.
0. The sandstone 60 plainly visible in the river bed never rises abovo the level of the
country to the east by north.
10. The weir or series of weirs at Ahwaz comprise five principal out-crops of sandstone
with a dip to the north of 15 degrees, the out-crop being south and the strike as already 6tated
from west by south to east by north.
11. No. 1 group is perhaps the most formidabln ; appearing 25 yards below the island
it narrows the river to 300 yards width, presenting a double ridge of rock over which the
water roars in times of flood ; there are however two openings, each of 50 yards in width in the
low wall of ropk, and through these the water pours at ordinary times having a fall of, say, 2
feet 6 inches ia a length of 30 yards.
12. No. 2 group crosses the river 1,100 yards below No. 1. The river having turned
16 degrees to the east to avoid the numerous rocks which crop out from tho left bank, but do
not extend right across its bed. Considerable accumulations of silt have collected on the rocks
on the left, but they do noi; join the bank ; wat«r channels have been cut in rock between them
and tho bank for the purpose of turning mills (vide plan) and their direction marks the course
of a considerable flow of water in flood time. It was along the ridge of group 2 that the
ancient bund was built, by the Sassanians (?). Remains of this massive structure aro still
visible, but only high and dry far out of the present course of the water which is in a rapid
stream between depressions in the rook and iraprwsablo for boa»s. The ancient bund was
adapted to the configuration of the rock to the leit bank whor* the sandstone is high abovo tho
river. A loop in the bund took in theso high rooks which aro pierced by tunnels and sluice
channels for diverting probably tbo water into canals lor irrigating tho country.