"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎٩‎٧] (٥٤٢/٤٠٨)

KERBELA—KHUERAMABAD
897
siderable trade, the main exports being dates, skins and hides, wool
and tobacco, as well as consecrated articles such as rosaries, praying
tablets, &c. The chief imports were piece-goods, carpets, petroleum,
candles, sugar, spices, coffee, and tea.
Inhabitants. —Of the fixed population three-fourths at least are
Persian (or Baluchi), and almost the whole of the remainder Arabs.
There are a few Turks and Jews, and about 1,200 British Indians.
The Moslem population is almost entirely Shiah, and the
are a numerous and influential body, though Kerbela is not so
important as Nejef as a centre of Shiah culture and learning.
A number of residents in Kerbela received annuities from the
Indian Government, which was trustee for some endowments made
by British Indians.
The floating population consists of Shiah pilgrims and their
attendants, who come in thousands every year, mainly in the cold
weather. Many bring with them the corpses of relatives for burial;
many come that they themselves may die and be buried in this holy
spot. In normal times most of the pilgrims came from Persia and
India. ■
Administration and Authorities. —Kerbela is the head-quarters of
a Scmjaq and Kasa in the Vilayet of Baghdad. In addition to the
Mutessarif, a Mudir of the Sanitary Department and a Mamur of
the Tobacco Regie used to be stationed here.
The military garrison consisted nominally of one regular battalion,
but there used rarely to be more than 240 men actually in the city,
where they were quartered in a hired caravanserai.
A British vice-consul (an Indian) and a representative of the
Persian Government were maintained here before the war.
History. —The battle in which Husein, the son of Ali, was slain
by the troops of the Caliph Yazid was fought in 680 a. i). To this
event Kerbela owes its importance, for the martyrdom of Husein has
exercised perhaps a more profound influence on Shiah religious
feeling than any other event in the history of Islam. Kerbela has
come to be regarded as the holiest of all the Shiah holy places.
KHURIIAMABAD. The capital of Luristan, Persia. Alt.
variously estimated from 3,875 to 4,700 ft. Pop. variously esti
mated from 2,000 upwards: perhaps about 6,000. T.
Routes.—
To Burujird. (See Boute 11 g.)
To Isfahan. (See Eoutes in P vol. iii. Route 83, &c.)