"تقرير عسكري عن جنوب غرب بلاد فارس، المجلد I. گرمسیر بختياري" [ظ‎‎٢‎٣] (١٦٨/٥١)

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reeds that grow in many ravines and valleys of the district. These
reeds are eaten with avidity, and seem to be a good substitute for
grass.
(iv) Transport.
The problem of providing transport for a force operating in this
district is perhaps the •most difficult of the questions that would
confront the Commander of a force on arrival at Shushtar or Ahwaz,
for it has been assumed elsewhere* that, as far as these towns,
transport by boat would be feasible and preferable to the use of
mules.
Camels are not numerous in the district, though it will be seen
from Appendix II that a proportion of camels are employed in the
Ahwaz-Isfahan traffic. Mules are numerous, of good quality,
and obtainable in large numbers on hire under favourable circum
stances. Donkeys are very numerous: every nomadic family,
and most sedentary families, have five or six. Probably 95 per
cent, of the traffic in grain and flour from country to town is carried
on the backs of these animals, which possess many advantages
over the mule for small owners.
Small and unkempt, seldom fed with grain, except when in
regular work, living on the scanty grazing afforded by the country
in the immediate vicinity of the main routes, being allowed bhusa
only occasionally, they are nevertheless driven from 16 to 24 miles
a day, loaded with burdens of from 100 to 150 lbs. by tracks over
which horses cannot be ridden.
They are marvellously sure footed, and are never shod.
Whilst donkeys are mainly in the hands of small owners, mules
are in the hands, to a great extent, of guilds of muleteers, each man
owning from 3 to 30 mules or more, but working together, and
accepting collective contracts. A certain number of mules are
in the hands of nomads of Luristan who breed mules extensively
in the hills. The muleteers of this district have their head
quarters at Shushtar, Ramuz, or Dizful, though they are generally
to be found also in Ahwaz, whence large caravans start for Isfahan
and Ramuz.
The Persian muleteer looks after his animals well according
to his lights, and those seen on the road generally seem to be in
fairly good condition.
It will be seen, therefore, that baggage animals are fairly
plentiful, mules being in the hands of a few guilds of muleteers,
and donkeys being widely distributed throughout the country.
♦Parti—Strategical.