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I passed through theso districts, however, thoro was comparatively littlo danger, owing to tho
strong mensuros that had been taken by Ferhad Mirza and his son, the Ihtisbam-ed-Dowleh.
Tho Zil-us-Sultan, under whose authority Luriatnn is, is an onorgctic rulnr, and one who is not
likoly to shrink from the strongest repressive measures, and I cannot but think that he both
coula and would louder tho road from Dizful to Khoramabad as safe as many other provinces
of Persia.
Were a metalled road modo from Bushho to Shiraz, I presumo it would pass by Firozabad
as the gradients on that lino nro oasior. This route haa, however, always beou vory insecure.
I am most unwilling to set up my'opinion against that of Sir H. ltawlinson, but I confess
I should somewhat regret tho completo abandonment of tho Karun schome, as I still oling to
tho idea that wo should derive commercial as well os political advantages, were it thrown open
to our ships.
I have not unfortunately, yot reorived from Persia ray maps, notes and oertain books of
reference, which would be useful tome in treating of this subject, but, as far as I remember
tho distanoo from Shuster to Tehran, by way of Dizful, Khoramabad, Burujird, and Kaum, is
about 480 miles a gain of 820 miles laud carriage on Lho Bushiro route.
My theory is that wo could place our goods in tho Tehran market by the Karun routo at
a cheaper rate than it is possible for us to do now, and that we should also open up for our
trade provinces in whioh wo, at present, cannot compote with Russia. Ispahan would, I fear,
suffer, and this, 'no doubt, is a matter for consideration, as the raarkot is an important ono.
There is one objootion to the scheme, of whioh I was not aware when I wrote my report
in January last.
Enclosure No. 6 in Colonel Robb* despatch to tho Government of India of 12th January
last, contains Messrs. Gray, Paul's views as to what terms they would roquire to make it worth
their while to run steamers on the Karun. They demand exclusive rights of navigation for
BO years. Now, Her Majesty’s Minister at Tehran, in bringing the question before the
Shah’a Government, has always pointed to the fact thut we were not seeking for a raouopoly.
"We opposed Dr, Tholozan’s scheme, which was a monopoly of the most complote description,
on the grounds that it was an infringement of Baron Reuter’s concession. Could we now apply
for the exclusive rights without which Messrs. Gray, Paul declare they could not entertain tho
project ? What is necessary for our interests is that, were the Karun opened to all comers, we
should bo the first in the field. If British merchants in the Gulf held hack, thf-ir plaoe would,
probably soon bo taken by the French, w io have shown considerable signs of wishing to gain
a footing in Southern Persia, and who, onoe established, could not easily bo dislodged.
Whetbpr the Karun scheme be dropped or nnt, there is another route from the. Persian
Gulf which I think is woithy of attention. I Hllude to the ono from Bushire to Ispahan by
way to Dillom, Bcbbehan, and Komeqhah. The country between the two latter placos hag
'never been travelled over by a European, and it would be interesting were it properly surveyed
by a competent person. Natives assert that the road is not difficult, and I fancy there can be no
oDsfaclcg between Bushire and Behbehan, exoept perhaps streams which would have to be
bridged. A bridge would haye to be made over tho Terahi hefore the routo ooqld be used
for wheeled traffio.

No. 18 (Oommercial), dated Tehran, 26th December 1882.
From—His Excellenci Ronald F. Thomson, Her Majesty’s Minister, Tehran,
To—Eabl Granville, K.G., Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
In my dpspach No. 180 of the 3rd of December 1S81,1 had the honor to inform Your
Lordship that the Persian Government had commissioned the Najm-ml-Mulk, an engineer
of some reputation, to draw up a report upon the advantages of opening the navigation of
the Karun and of re-constructing the dam at Ahwaz, I have now the honor to enclose a
• BeporU translated sum man* of tho report* presented to the
Z^-us-Sultan by the official in question.
Your Lordship’s despatch No. 91 of the 13th October contains, amongst other papers,
8 copy of a memorandum drawn up by Sir If. Rawlinsoo, in which objections are raised to
the project for opening the navigation on the Karun on two grounds
/if.—1That goods would have to be trans-shipped at the Ahwaz dam.
2nd.—That the diroot line aoross the mountains from Shuster to Isfaham cannot bo
made a oommercial road.
Sir H. Rawlinson for two reasons is inclined to prefer the Bushire-Shiraz route in spito
of the notoriously bad and in some places dangerous “ passes ” it traverses.
With regard to the trans-shipment of goods at the Ahwaz dam, I gather from various
sources that, in the preeent condition of trado, tho disadvantage of trans-shipment is not so
great ap seriously to hamper commercial transactions, more especially if, as is suggested m