'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.' [‎199] (258/905)

CHAP. IX.] THE OLD KARUN, AND DOR A K CANAL. 199
(according to the natives) from the Kerkhah, through a canal
called Shatt el Maktuah, or the Cut River.
The course of the Karun now becomes less tortuous ; and Course of the
for 29 miles, to Ismaili, it runs in the general direction of ^e 'cut River,
south 22° west, making a sweep more westward before it
reaches the latter place. From hence the river again curves
to the westward, previously to forming a great bend in the
contrary direction. After this last bend, the windings be
come more moderate, and so continue as far as the castle of
Sabla, which is situated on the left bank, at 60^ miles by the
river, south 5° west of Ismaili.
From the ruins of the town of Sabla, just below the castle, its ancient con-
the Karun made its way in former times directly to the sea, "he sea WIth
without having, as at present, a communication with the
Shatt el Arab through the Hafar canal. Nearchus must,
therefore, before he reached the estuary of the Euphrates,
have met the river Karun ; and having a communication with
the present river of that name, he had only to proceed along
it into the Shapur, in order to meet Alexander at Sus.
The ancient bed of the Karun was followed by the officers state of the
of the Expedition for some distance towards the sea, on which auc,e11
occasion they found it to be about 200 yards broad, running
in a south-easterly direction, or nearly parallel to the Bah-a-
Mishir, and with every appearance of having contained a large
body of water in former times. At present, however, there
is merely, in the centre of the old bed, a small channel, which
is filled during the flowing tide ; but on the ebb it is reduced
to about one foot of brackish water, which is supplied chiefly
from the Dorak canal. This last is an artificial cut, which The Dorak
leaves the extremity of the old river at Sabla, one mile from
the modern Karun, and goes from thence, north 83° east, 27^
miles, to the residence of the Sheikh of Ka'b at Dorak.
At this place, which is also called Felahiyah, its waters are
almost entirely supplied from the Jerahi, although it commu
nicates with the Karun at one extremity, and is affected by
the tide up the old Karun, as well as through the Hafar
canal.
From Sabla, the main trunk of the Karun pursues a course