'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎196] (253/905)

196
the dizful river.
[CHAP. IX.
From the relation thus given, it would appear that the
stream in question gradually changed its course, first for a
more southern, and latterly for its present easterly direction.
Course of the The next considerable stream of Susiana is the Dizful,
which flows in two branches north-east of Khorram-abad.
The western branch has its source in the Kuki-chihil Na
Balighan, a very few miles from that of the main branch of
the Kerkhah. Its direction is south-east for about forty miles,
within which space it passes Burugird and Bahrein ; and after
receiving the eastern branch at the latter place, it enters the
mountainous country, where it pursues a tortuous course of
about 100 miles in the general direction of south. Having
penetrated through the Zagros chain nearly at its most ele
vated point, the water forces its way through a succession of
chasms and gorges by the fort of Diz, and proceeds south-
westward between the hill forts of Tangawan and Kal'ah
Shahi, 1 throwing out several branches 2 at the commencement
of the plain of Susiana, along which it continues in the same
direction for ten miles to the western side of Dizful. This
City of Dizful. city occupies some swelling ground a little way above the left
bank of the river. It is inclosed by a dilapidated wall,
flanked by semicircular towers, and contains upwards of 4000
houses, which, from their square form, their towers and Sara
cenic arches, have the appearance of so many mud castles,
overlooking the flour mills, the fine bridge of Shapur, and,
beyond the right bank, the showy tomb of Muhammed Ali
Mirza. After passing the town in the previous direction, and
in a single stream, the river receives at the seventh mile
The aw - fr0m tllence ' or at twelve from the Kerkhah, the Abi-Balad-
Baiad-rM. ru ^ a mountain stream, which comes from the hills of Man-
gerrah and Shah-zadah Ahmed, in the general direction of
S.S.W., through the rich plain of Sahrai-Lur. The Abi-
Balad-rud is a mere rivulet in the dry season; but when rains
abundantly on the hills, the water comes down in a large
torrent, and with such force, that the stream becomes alto
gether impassable for the time, especially in the upper part of
1 Major Rawlinson's March, p. 67, Part I. Vol. IX. of the Journal of the
Royal Geographical Society. ^ Qr rather irrWi™ cuts.
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