'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III. PART I: A to K' [‎328r] (660/1278)

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321
FAR—-FAR
It thus happens that, with a few exceptions, noted in the route, large
stocks of straw and barley are available at every stage from Bushire to
Isfahan and more could be brought in at short notice.
Straw and barley are not, as a rule, stocked in large barns, but in pits
and small rooms, scattered over the village, and one of the principal diffi
culties in supplying troops in the collection of fodder from the various caches r
it all has to be weighed before it can be taken over, and this wastes much
time ; 25,0001bs. of straw and other things pro rata may be taken as the
limit which it is generally possible for a single agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. to remove from
store, weight, and issue, at the end of a day’s march before nightfall, unless
by any chance it is possible to obtain all requirements from one storehouse ;
even then the time taken in filling sacks, and removing them through
narrow entrances, militates against handling much more than the above
quantity. I his fact, combined with the difficulty of moving large numbers -
of baggage animals simultaneously over the narrow track, which constitutes
the main road from Bushire to Isfahan, makes it undesirable to have a
larger body than one regiment of cavalry or infantry at any one stage on
the road, except at Burazjan, Ivazarun, Shiraz, Abadeh and Qumisheh,
where supplies are sufficiently plentiful to enable two regiments to camp
simultaneously without serious difficulty. At one stage, Mian Kutal, the
camping ground is so limited that only 2 squadrons of cavalry and half a
regiment of infantry with transport could find room to camp ; the infantry
could however manage somehow or other, no doubt, in the woods round.
The stage can be avoided by camping at Ab-Gineh, and proceeding thence
direct to Dashtarjan, or by moving from Kazarun to Kaluni, and thence by
the main road, or by the short cut known as Rah-i-Kal to Dashtarjan.
The latter could be used by infantry with transport, though the main road
is less difficult for loaded mules.
Supplies for troops stationed at various points in Fdrs, consent of local
authorities being assumed —-
Behbehdn. A regiment could be supplied without difficulty always
and a large force could live on the country in ordinary years.
Burazjdn. —Ditto.
Kdzarun. Iffiis town is an important centre for muleteers, and large
stocks of fodder are usually available. Two regiments could be garrisoned
here and live on the country.
Jahrun. This town is well supplied with straw and barley from unirrigated
lands ; both are cheap in normal years. Two regiments could live on
the country in ordinary years here.
Fasd.—Ai times it is very difficult to obtain fodder at all, especially
after passage of Khamseh. There is also extensive irrigated cultivation ;
it is the centre of the Khamseh tribes’ country, and has some importance
from a military point of view in consequence. Two regiments could live
on the country in ordinary years.
Abddeh Iglid.— The market town for a large district: not much difficulty
should be experienced in keeping one regiment here but for the winter
supplies would have to be laid in before December.