ملاحظات أُعدت كمرجع خلال جولة كرزون في الخليج الفارسي، وأوراق أخرى عن بلاد فارس والخليج الفارسي [و‎‎٣‎١‎٠] (٦٧٨/٦١٩)

-in~>
(5o)
5
I do not know if there are any stringent political reasons why the Vice-Consul
should be stationed at Mohammerah; as far as I could judge he does not, commercially
speaking, appear to he of much use there. I should feel inclined to move him to
Shuster or Dizful, where he would find some useful work to do.
Another point where a Vice-Consul would be most advantageous is Sultanabad, with
powers over Khorremabad and Burujird, even it might be extending to Kermanshah and
Hamadan. But he should not be a stay-at-home man, but one who would itinerate, and
remain a month or two at a time at the above spots. There is plenty of room for good
work at all these places.
In conclusion, I am led to believe that there are openings for us in the country, and
much good and valuable work is to be done, but that the whole question is in our own
hands, and it lies with the Government to say whether these openings shall be utilized
and trade pushed.
(Signed) J. ft. PR EEC E.
Summary. — Roads.
It now only remains for me to summarize and submit for consideration such deduc
tions and ideas as I have arrived at on this journey as will lead to or assist in arriving
at a conclusion whereby these roads can be made suitable to carry British trade, and so
induce the trader to utilize them.
Between Ispahan and Shuster there are three points on the road which will have to
altered before it can be considered a proper caravan one, open to the transit of British
mercantile goods.
The first is the Pul-i-Amarat. This bridge should certainly be made a permanent
and effective one on the higher level, and not open to being carried away, as it is now, by
any flooding of the river.
Secondly, the Pass of Mawarid, immediately after leaving the above bridge, should
be put into better order by means of properly constructed zigzags, and the dangerous
bit at the ladder, described in my Report, should be blasted and made thoroughly foot-
sure for heavily laden animals ; at the present time it is quite the reverse, although it
must be observed that this pass is only used for some six months in the year, the road in
summer and autumn being by Rudbar, as followed by Colonel Wells. He, however,
describes the drop from the plateau to the river as being very difficult and dangerous. If
this Pass of Marawid was once made good, it is possible that the traffic would always
keep to it.
Thirdly, the Godar-i-Balutak. Here a bridge, or some more efficient mode of
crossing than the present ferry, is imperatively necessary. Mercantile goods of a
perishable nature would certainly be liable to damage, as very often the platform of the
ferry is awash. The solution, without doubt, is a well-constructed bridge at the point
where the Khans are now trying to make a sort of suspension bridge.
Hajji Ali Kuli Khan is most anxious to build a bridge if he can possibly do it, as
he says this ferry is most dangerous, and annually costs the Bakhtiaris from 50 to 200
lives and some 20,000 tomans’ worth of property. This is doubtless an exaggeration,
but, nevertheless, the crossing now is made in a most primitive fashion, and has its
dangers. In the long run a bridge of this kind would not only be the cheapest, but would
be as effective as any other kind.
There are other points of the road where a little clearing away of trees, boulders,
and some modification of the gradients would largely add to its efficiency. But, taken
on the whole, it is by no means a bad road; and if only the work indicated at the three
points above was carried out, there is no reason why it should not be used for nine
months in the year. In winter, during the other three months, this way is blocked; but
that is, however, as a rule, only at one point, although in severe winters there are two
other places which may be temporarily stopped by snow. The bad point is the Pass of
Zirreh, together with the valley of Siligun, between Chichakhor and Hagun. This
portion of the road is invariably impassable in winter; the pass would have to be
turned, and the Tang-i Darkash-Warkash, to the north-east of Ardal, which carries off’
the drainage of Chehar Mahal to the Karun, would have to be used. At present it is
a very rough road, only fit in winter for foot passengers; but a good and efficient road
could be made along it at a small expense, the distance requiring making being only
about 4 miles.
[1018 6—2]
C