'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎147] (316/524)

FROM BUSHIRE TO SHIRAUZ.
147
oranges, pomegranates, and other fruits, also a few date trees. The
date, however, does not ripen well at Kauzeroon, and I saw no date
tree after ascending above this plain. Unless for the gardens above
noticed, the plain of Kauzeroon is not well wooded. Firewood in any
quantity would have to be collected at considerable trouble from the
neighbouring hills. The town of Kauzeroon is built of stone in irre
gular narrow streets, and nearly wall-less. Tradition asserts of this as
of almost every other town of Persia I have visited, that it is falling
off, that matters once went much better with it, that its decline
is due to Governmental tyranny, and that the people are at the last
grip of poverty. I find, however, that the revenue now paid is that
which has long been paid, and that the population has long been what
it now is, and I judge that when Shapour in the adjacent valley was
deserted, the want of a half-way house between Shirauz and the Gulf was
felt, that the plain of Kauzeroon offered a convenient point, as being
directly on the high road, whereas Shapour was at a distance from it;
and that the town of Kauzeroon thus rose, and its plain became
cultivated, until it fulfilled the requirements of its passing traffic, and
produced sufficient for the home wants and small exports of its own
inhabitants. The district of Kauzeroon pays a lump revenue of some
25,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. . Next to Shirauz it is the greatest rendezvous of mules
along the route. The mules are usually bred among the Eliant tribes,
who bring them for sale when one or more years of age. The Eliants
further rear good serviceable horses. In the province of Pars the
horse of most esteemed breed is that of the Kashgai tribe. It is of Arab
descent, but being reared among rocky mountains, acquires an activity
and sure footedness over stony ground, which are rarely found among
Arab horses brought from x\rabia. I am of opinion, that a large supply
of serviceable horses might be obtained from the province of Pars as from
other Persian provinces. I observed the Eliants frequently passing
mounted on good brood mares, with colts running alongside ; and in the
plain of Persepolis for instance, I saw numerous mares loose, out
feeding in the neighbourhood of the Eliant tents. I was assured that
they could readily collect for me some 500 horses in that plain and its
adjacent hills. I was often asked as to the prospects of the Bombay
horse market. All seemed to well understand its fluctuations, and it
was interesting to watch the rapid and sensitive manner in which
supply and price seemed to respond to anything like a demand.