'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎50] (81/714)

PERSIA
50
^nominally = 450 miles) or 15 days, but which the postman
covered io 10 days. For over forty years, from 1838 to 1881, the
British Consulate at Baghdad, assisted at first by a su jsu j from
the Indian Government, kept up this mounted post, which was
originally established in connection with the Euphrates Expedition
and Flotilla 1 but was ultimately killed by the competition of the
Turkish Government, who started a rival post at international
rates. The hardships and lack of real interest, as well as the
occasional danger, by this route are so great that few. it any
adopt it, except such as are resolutely bent upon sacrificing comfort
and risking safety. ^ ,
Finally, there is the circuitous and comfortable method ot reach-
ins; Baghdad, which consumes much time, but no tissue, proceeding
entirely by water. The steamers of the British India
GuSute Navigation Company run from Bombay (in correspondence
with the V. & 0. boats from Europe), via Kurrachi and the Persian
Gulf to Busrah, where transhipment is easily effected into the
excellent river-boats of the Euphrates and Tigris Steam Navigation
Company, which in from three to four days, according to the state
of the river, accomplish the ascent of the Tigris to Baghdad. The
only drawback to this route is the length of time, over five weeks,
that is consumed between London and our destination.
Having thus conducted the traveller, by any one of the above
approaches to Baghdad, let me now show him how he will enter
Ba Mad Persia from this quarter, and what he will see by so doing.
to a feheran From Baghdad to the Persian frontier, five miles beyond
the Turkish station of Khanikin, the distance is ninety miles, the
road running for the most part over a level desert, and the halting-
places being as follows; Beni Saad or Orta Khan (15 miles).
Yakubieh (14), Shahrabad (26), Kizil llobat (18), Khanikm
(17). There is no postal service; and the traveller, who must
engage his baggage animals at Baghdad, halts in lihans (the
Turkish equivalent to caravanserais) and rest-houses. After pacing
through the custom-house on the Persian border he finds the
following route extended before him ;—
1 The cost of this post from February 1838 to April 1843 was 89,550 mpees.
For the next twent)' years the cost was about 8?. a trip, after which time so many
letters were sent that it paid its own way. The haltinsr-places or wells between
Damascus and Baghdad by this route are Idhmair, Aitha, Humana, Iltinf, Zag ,
Igara, Idama, Imhewar, Rajmi Sabun, Aainij, Giseir Khubaz, Kubaisa, and Hit.