'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.' [‎203] (262/905)

CHAP. IX.] CULTIVATION, PRODUCTS, ETC.
203
the ancient excavations at its western extremity. A little way
northward of the city, at the bifurcation of the river, is the
famous reservoir called. Shadarwan, with the bridge of
Shapur, and several deep and fine khanats, which will be
hereafter noticed.
In addition to the care of cattle," which is the prevailing Productions of
occupation, agriculture is carefully attended to, and the quan- the country "
tity of tobacco, rice, and other grain (especially barley) pro
duced along the banks of the rivers, is considerable. Some
cotton is likewise grown; and in the district of Ahwaz, sugar
was abundant at no very distant period. On the lower parts
of the Karun and Kerkhah, as well as in the Chaab country,
dates are sufficiently abundant to be an article of commerce.
In addition to the bitumen and naphtha of Bandi-Kir, Dara-
napth, &c., tents, red cloth, coarse woollens, and some cottons,
are manufactured; the last chiefly at Dizful, where dyeing is
extensively practised. Large flocks of sheep, with a portion
of goats, camels, horses, and mules, are to be seen on all the
rich pasture-grounds of Susiana.
Occasionally permanent walled villages are met with ; but Dwellings of
the greatest part of the inhabitants live in tents, which are the people '
of a large size, being supported by a number of poles, in
parallel rows, lessening in height from the ridge towards the
sides, which are very low. This kind of tent is more commo
dious than that which is in use in other parts of Persia, or in
Arabia. In the latter country, more frequent changes of resi
dence render one of a lighter and smaller construction necessary.
Khuzistan represents the Susiana of Strabo, 1 as well as Cities of
the Cissia of Herodotus. 2 Towards the eastern frontiers are
the ruins of Rhajoun and Kerdistan in the centre, those of
Agings (probably represented by Ahwaz) towards the west;
Rudbar, Se'imarrah, Badaca, and I'wani-Kerkh on the
Kerkhah; and finally, near the latter stream, are those of
Sus, Susan or Shushan, 3 the ancient capital. Sus is the
Persian as well as the Hebrew name for the lily, a flower
which abounded near this winter residence of the Assyrian
1 Lib. XV., p. 727. 2 Lib. V., c. Hi.
8 " I was at Shushan, in the palace."—Daniel viii. 2.
2 D 2