Page 62 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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40
Teuban.
Hantadan SO farsakhs • •• ... 200
Kormanshah 27 ii • • • • •• ... 110
Baghdad 70 II • •• • • • ... 280

147 600

Tehban.
Burujird 55 faraakbs Ml ... 220
Kboramabad 13 #9 Ml • M 60
Dizful 32 19 • M ... 130

100 400

The first of thes*, the present caravan road from Bushire to Tehran, is tho longest «* and
the portion between Bushire and Shiraz is so bad and dangerous that it could hardly bo made
6afe, or really serviceable eien for mule traffic, with any outlay which the Pcisian Government
could be induced to incur.
The road from Dillom in tho Persian Gulf to Tehran is shorter than tho above by about
160 miles. This is said to be goed and mostly level from the coast to Behbehan, and from
Komeshah to tho capital, there is nothing to prevent wheeled tiaflic being established at a
small cost. The portion between Behbeban and Komeshah is not yet accurately known. Mr.
Baring made enquiry respecting it when be was in Fars, and was informed that it offered no
real difficulty. One of the Kashkai Chiefs from that part of the country lately described it
to me as being extremely difficult, if not altogether impracticable, but on- quest ioning him as
to other roads with which we were both aoquainted, I found that most of his statements were
greatly exaggerated.
The shortest route, in respect to land carriage from the Gulf to Tehran, is that by way
of Dizful-Khoramabad and Kaum, the distance being only 400 miles.
I would suggest that the routes from Dillom to Tehran and from Dizful to Khoramabad
and Kaum should bo surveyed by some competent person. Captain Wells, who is employed
in the Telegraph Department here and frequently travels from Tehran to Bushire, might
perhaps undertake* tuis work, or a practical road engineer might be sent for the purpose.
: These routes should, I think, be examined not with a view to an expensively constructed
carriage road being made, but with the object simply of discovering a line of oountry through
which an ordinary caravan road for mules and litters might be established, which could at a
email expense he hereafter made fit for the passage of carts. The Persian Government might
then he induced, a9 ti e traffic inoreased to improvo.and repair, the difficult parts, and it might
thus before long become, like tho road from Tabriz to Tehran, practicable for wheolcd traffio
ae well as mules. The adaptability of the routes in question for the construction of a line of
railway might also at the same time be reported upon.
The question of the possible insecurity of such roads is one to ■ which I do not attach
any great importance. Trade will give security to any road in this country, aud the less traffic
there is, the greater will be insecurity. In tho province of Azorbaijan even, as elsewhere
in Persia,,the high roads beoorae dangerous whenever a weak Governor is. in office. The
Persian Government should be held responsible for the safety of any route which is frequented
by caravans conveying merchandise, and if this were done there would' be no - difficulty in
securing iho adoptioo by them of effectual measures for the suppression of brigandage.