K U Z 



48 1 



K U Z 



Kuzisun. are hospitable, honest, and inoffensive, and entertain a 

 "*" "V"-' high respect for old age. Strangers from other islands 

 are received with great demonstrations of ceremony 

 and affability combined. Their arrival is awaited on 

 the shore, and they are conducted to the huts, where 

 they are entertained after the best manner of the host, 

 who stands listening to the adventures of his guests. 

 The narrative sometimes continues two hours ; and, 

 when completed, the eldest among the islanders as 

 this task, or rather privilege, always belongs to senior. 

 ity begins a corresponding relation of what has oc- 

 curred to himself and his friends. Previous to the ful- 

 filment of the ceremonial, no conversation takes place 

 among the others. Notwithstanding the mildness of 

 their disposition, suicide is not rare. 



Trade; Trade, or manufactures, can hardly be said to be 



practised here. Nettles.are made into stuffs, which are 

 sold to the Japanese, who, together with the Russians, 

 are the only nations visitingthe Kuriles. According 

 to the eastern author, above referred to, a traffic was 

 carried on from Jesso, with one of them which he calls 

 Kitat-Soeb, and entirely by barter, as the inhabitants 

 came down from the mountains to the coast, to ex- 

 change skins, stuffs, and cloths, for rice, salt, tobacco, 

 and other commodities. Of later years, however, the 

 Japanese seem to have made permanent establishments 

 on some of the islands. The Russian embassy to Ja- 

 pan having experienced a contumelious reception at 

 that island, resented it by an attack on the Kuriles. 

 After returning to Kamtschatka, two armed vessels 

 were dispatched from thence in 1807, which soon 

 reached the settlements. The Japanese made a shew 

 of resistance with their bows and arrows, but speedily 

 fled, leaving their habitations and magazines at the 

 mercy of the invaders. Here were found cannon, and 

 arms of different kinds ; also beautiful lacquered uten- 

 sils, books, and maps, together with a large provision 

 of rice, salt, and tobacco. The Russians returned with 

 considerable booty, among which were many interest- 

 ing objects that they had fruitlessly endeavoured to 

 gain a knowledge of during their residence in Japan. 

 Although the Russian merchants have resorted to the 

 Kurile islands for a considerable time, little advantage, 

 either commercial or scientific, has resulted from their 

 visits, (c) 



KUZISTAN, or the ancient Susiana, is a province 

 of Persia, bounded on the south by the Persian Gulf; 

 on the south-west, by the Tigris and the Shat-ul-Arab ; 

 on the north-west, by the dominions of the pacha of 

 Bagdad ; and on the east, by the river Tab, which se- 

 parates it from Pars. This province is divided into the 

 territories of Chab Sheikh, and those which form the 

 government of Shuster. 



The Chab territories extend from the banks of the 

 Tab to the conflux of the Karoon and the Abzal, and 

 from the shore of the Persian Gulf to a range of hills 

 which skirt the valley of Ram Hormuz to the south. 

 The rivers which water this part, are the Karoon, the 

 Tab, and the Jerahi. The greater part of it consists 

 of extensive morasses and sandy plains. The most fer- 

 tile spots are in the neighbourhood of Doruk, the capi- 

 tal, and on the banks of the Hafar and the Shat-ul- 

 Arab, where alone rice and dates are produced. Wheat 

 and barley are grown in small quantities. The north- 



Dorak, 

 Folahi. 



ern and western parts of the country afford pretty good 

 pasturage. 



The Karoon, supposefl-by D'Anville to be the an- 

 cient Choaspes, is a noble river, in nmny parts more 

 than three hundred yards in breadth, and navigable for 

 boats of 2.5 tons burthen as far as Kishtibund, four miles 

 from Shuster. The chief towns of this part of the pro- 

 vince, are Dorak, or Felalii, Ahwaz, Endian, Mashoor, 

 Goban, and Jerahi. Felahi stands on low marshy 

 ground, on two of the branches of the Jerahi. Its mud 

 walls, which are about 16 feet thick, are nearly two 

 miles in circumference, and are flanked at regular 

 intervals with round towers. The population, which 

 amounts to about 8000, live in the suburbs, under the 

 shade of the date trees. Its principal trade consists in 

 the manufacture of the abba, or Arabian cloak, which is 

 exported in great quantities all over Persia and Arabia. 



Ahwaz, once a flourishing city, is now a wretched Ahwaz. 

 town of 600 or 700 inhabitants. It stands on the banks 

 of the Karoon. An old bridge, and a palace, are the 

 principal remains of the ancient city. There are some 

 extraordinary excavations in the rocks. 



Endian, situated in North Lat. 30 18', is divided Endian. 

 into two parts by the Tab, and is nearly two miles in 

 circumference. It trades with Bassorah and Bebahan, 

 and has a population of between 4000 and 5000 souls. 



Mashoor, situated half way between Endian and Do. 

 rak, is about two miles from the sea. It has a popula- 

 tion of about 700, who trade with Bassorah and the 

 Arabian coast. 



The revenues of the chab are about 50,000 Sterling 

 per annum. He can bring into the field an army of 

 5000 horse, and 20,000 foot. 



The other part of Kuzistan, which is attached to the 

 government of Shuster, is the best part of the province. 

 It is fertilized by four noble rivers, namely the Ka- 

 roon, the Abzal, the Kerah, or Haweesa, and the an- 

 cient Gyndes. The principal towns, are Shuster, the 

 capital, (see the article SHUSTEU,) Dezphoul, Shus, 

 and Haweeza. Shuster contains nearly 15,000 inhabi- 

 tants. Dezphoul contains nearly the same num- 

 ber. It stands in a spacious plain, on the east bank 

 of the Abzal. The principal building is a handsome 

 bridge of 22 arches, 450 paces long, 40 high, and 20 

 broad. The ruins of Shus extend over a surface of 

 about twelve miles. They consist of hillocks of earth 

 and rubbish, covered with broken pieces of brick and 

 coloured tile. The largest of these mounds is about 

 100 feet high, and a mile in circuit. They resemble 

 the pyramids of Babylon. Major Rennel regards these 

 ruins as the remains of the celebrated city of Susa, 

 while Dr. Vincent considers Shuster as occupying the 

 site of Susa. 



Kuzistan possesses a healthy climate; and Shuster 

 is the resort of invalids from the surrounding territories. 

 In summer, its inhabitants avoid the excessive heats, 

 by taking refuge in subterraneous chambers during the 

 day, and spending the night on the flat ruofs of their 

 houses. Periodical rains prevail from December to the 

 end of March. Two crops of grain are obtained in the 

 year. Indigo is cultivated near Dezphoul; and excel. 

 lent opium is extracted from poppies, which grow near 

 Shuster. See Macdonald Kinneir's Geographical Me- 

 myir of the Persian Empire, p. 85. 



