"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٣‎٩‎٨] (٥٤٢/٤٠٩)

398
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS
To Dizful. (See Routes 11 a, b.)
To Deh Bala. (See Eoute lid.)
To Kirmanshah. (See Eoute lie.)
General Description. —The town is situated on the r. bank of the
Kashgan river or Ab-i-Khurramabad, the ruins of a former city (see
History, below) lying on the 1. bank. The river here is broad and
usually shallow, and fordable everywhere, but at times it carries
a large volume of water. A steep isolated rock above the town is
crowned by the ruined Diz-i-Siyeh (black castle). The town is poorly
built, with houses mainly of mud. It is of no military strength.
There is a camping-ground, suitable for a brigade, W. of the town.
Climate. —The summer is very hot, and from June to September
the inhabitants are away on the hills. Heavy rains fall in October,
and the winter is severe, with a considerable fall of snow. The
transition from winter to summer is rapid.
Supplies and Commerce. —The bazaar is poor and ill-supplied, and
the surrounding country, though fertile, is insufficiently cultivated
with a little rice, wheat, and barley. Fruit and vegetables, however,
are abundant in summer. Khurramabad is a wool-mart for the
Lurs, but has little industry.
History. —The site on the 1. bank has been occupied from very
early times. A high circular brick tower, an aqueduct, and a
ruined bridge are among the ancient remains. When the Arabs
overran Persia Khurramabad became a point of strategic importance.
From about 1100 to 1600 it was the capital of the Atabegs of
Luristan.
Administration. —The town is the seat of the Governor of Luristan,
whose residence is at the foot of the castle walls.
KIPL. On the 1. bank of the Hindiyeh arm of the Euphrates,
immediately above the bifurcation of the Kufeh and Shamiyeh chan
nels. Pop. about 2,000. T.L. Nejef—Hilla passes the town. Ferry.
River Routes. —For communication by the channels of the Euphrates
between Kill and other places on the river see IV A,
B, 0, D.
Land Routes—
(i) To Nejef. (See Route 21 a.)
(ii) To Hilla. (See Route 21 b.)
General Description. —Kifi is surrounded on three sides by creeks
from the river, which are not often more than 3 or 5 ft. deep ; some
of them extend for several miles. At h.w. the village is surrounded
by floods, and is then connected with the mainland only by a winding