'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.' [‎198] (255/905)

198 THE SHiPTJR AND LOWER KARUN. [CHAP. IX.
branch called the Sheity, or Shutite, and the Muchircan
branch of Edrisi, washes the latter on its western side/ and
then proceeds by a tortuous course of nearly 40 miles in the
general direction of S. S.W, When two miles short of
Union of the Bandi-Kir, it receives the Dizfdl river, and again unites with
branches. 1 * # ^ o
the eastern branch just below this little town, which is
walled, and probably contains nearly 600 souls. The branch last
mentioned, which is called the old Karun, after washing the
eastern side of Shuster, becomes navigable for boats of con
siderable size. 8 At the village of Hassemania, a few miles
below the city, it takes a winding course of about 30 miles
through low hills, in the general direction of S.S.W., and
carries a considerable body of water along the eastern side of
Bandi-Kir. After receiving the western branch, as already
mentioned, below that place, 3 the main stream pursues nearly
a direct course 3° 10' west for 10 miles, as far as the western
side of the little town of Wais. Here the river makes a bold
sweep for 9^ miles west 3° south; and it formerly received in
this part of its course the river Shapiir, or rather one branch
of it. The bed of this branch is still to be traced at a spot
about a mile and a half below the town, and it appears to
have come from the north-west. At this place, which is
2^ miles short of Karabuk, the Karun becomes exceedingly
tortuous, and thus continues for a distance of 20 miles, in the
general direction of south 33° west to Ahwaz.
lid Kirfm ^ ^ tt ^ e wa y below the extensive ruins of this ancient town,
Wriy con- are the remains of a channel, by which, within the memory
of those still alive, the waters of the Shapur (probably those
of the main branch) entered the principal river after they
had ceased to do so near Wais.
Again, at 17 miles below Ahwaz, by the windings, or 8
miles south 60° west in a direct line, the Karun still receives,
during the season of floods; a contribution, which comes
g J aub ert's Translation, p. 380. Recueil de Voyages et Memoires, Tome V.
3 Mine, in 1831, was 66 feet by 16 feet 10 inches, and 5 feet deep.
An unfriendly act of the inhabitants prevented Captain Estcourt from fol
lowing out the intended examination of these waters; but this will, it is hoped,
be done by Captain Lynch and his officers