'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.' [‎206] (265/905)

206
LURISTAN.
[CHAP. IX.
56,000 families, composed of the Faili, the Dilfun, and other
nomadic tribes of Lurs, who enjoy partial independence with
much domestic comfort. 1
Its divisions. The province is subdivided into the districts of Luri-
Kuchuk and Luri-Buzurg: the former is westward of the
Dizful river, and near the plains of Khawah and Alishtar,
on the borders of Assyria. 8
The Wall (anciently the Atabeg) resides in Khorram-
abad, which is the seat of his government: here a fort
occupies the crest of an isolated rock, which rises in the
centre of a precipitous pass ; and the town is on the south
western face, near the commencement of the rich plain.
This place probably represents the Diz Siyah, or Kuh Siyah,
The Batten which originated the title Cosscean? The latter, or Luri-
Buzurg, is generally known as the Bakhtiyari country;
which, like the other portion, was subject to the Atabegs,'
whose fastness, Mungasht, occupies a detached mass of
scarped rock, which is deemed impregnable. 4 This part of
the country contains two grand lire-temples; one near the
ruins of Manjanik, 5 and the other, called Masjedi-Suleimani-
Buzurg, on the river Karun 6
Ancient ruins. It contains also the ruins of several cities ; such as Man
janik (near Mungasht), 7 Mai Amir, or Eidij, and Susan, on
the Karun ; 8 and among the ruins is an abundance of arrow
head inscriptions. The last mentioned town is supposed to
represent Elymais, or Sosirate, 9 the capital of the province
from whence the hardy Cosssei spread their conquests over
Susiana and the districts eastward. 10
1 Major Rawlinson: Vol. IX. Part I., p. 109, of the Royal Geographical
J T T n K - n* 4 Ibid., P. 49.
; Ibid., pp. 97, 98, 99. 4 Ibidi) I 80>
Probably that of Marin, and the story of Abraham and Nimrud is
traditionally linked with this spot.—Ibid., p. 81.
6 One of the temples of Diana.—Pliny, lib. VI., c. xxvii.
7 Probably representing Seleucia.—Rawlinson: Vol. IX. Part I. p. 86
of the Royal Geographical Journal. '
Shushan; and also called Danieli-Akbar.—Ibid., p. 82.
9 Pliny, lib. VI., cap. xxvii.
- 0 ^ Hymseans inhabited Mount Zagros, which is on the southern con-
es of Media, and overhangs Babylonia and Susiana.—Strabo, XI pp 522
524; and XVI., p. 744. ' ' VV '