"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٤‎٨‎٠] (٥٤٢/٤٩١)

480
APPENDIX D
liifetfl
Communications
The Maidan-i-Naftun oil-wells, and the surrounding petroliferous
area, are surrounded by alluvial desert and marsh (on the S. and W.)
and by mountains (on the N, and E.).
Q1 ^ pluvial desert on the S. is traversed by the Karun and the 1
att el- Arab, and by far the easiest approach is from the Persian iS'k 11
. by these waterways. The Shatt el-'Arab is navigable for ocean- ■
going steamers, and can be further opened up (see Route I A in this
volume), and the Karun is navigable for river steamers up to and
above the Ahwaz rapids [Route II A).
. The 1 ® 1 nd routes across the plains are all more or less difficult or •
impassable after rain or in the flood season. Away from the rivers Isee
water is very scarce in summer and autumn. Supplies are almost ■ i
unobtainable except along the Shatt el-Arab in the Fellahlyeh and .
Hindiyan districts, round Eam Hormuz and Behbehan, and in the
plam ot Shushtar and Dizful. For land routes along the lines of
the on att el- Arab, Karun, and Karun tributaries, see 1, 3,
6 a d in this volume. For routes in the plain E. of the Karun see
Boutestn Persia, vol. iii, 53, 57, 61 (stages 1-3), 62, 65, 66 ; . ...
tions to Boutes m Persia, vol. Hi, 72.
To N. and NW. the hills of Luristan and the Pusht-i-Kuh rise in
successive ranges running NW.-SE. to the high Persian plateau
(the Khurramabad plain is about 3,500-4,000 ft. above Dizful). The
lower ranges on the S. side of this mountain belt are chiefly sand
stone and gypsum: the high ranges are separated by broad valleys
or depressions filled with low sandstone and gypsum hills. The
lower hills north of Shushtar and Dizful are petroliferous, and
indications of oil are found here and there in the lower valleys of
the Pusht-i-Kuh and in the gypsum and sandstone country between
he higher ranges towards Khurramabad. The country is on the
whole well watered, though in parts the supply may be poor in
quality and scanty in summer. Grazing is generally good : fuel is
scarce in the southern hills. Practically no supplies are obtainable.
Ihe inhabitants migrate regularly between summer and winter
pastures. Luristan has long been in a condition of complete anarchy,
ihe easiest routes between Dizful and Khurramabad make a detour
to W. None is at present suitable for wheels. See 11 a, b, c
m this volume. Before the war a railway from Mohammareh to
Khurramabad had been projected. It is not known whether a line
across the hills had been chosen for it. A route which gives fairly
easy going, and might apparently be made passable for wheels with-