TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 891 
zainst 520 miles. The first of the two routes from Shushter traversed a country 
which had been subject to the depredations of the Lur tribes; but the opening of 
the Karun River and the revenues derived from increased commerce would make 
it worth while for the Persian Government to ensure its security. As to the 
second it lay through the country of the friendly Bakhtiari, who were well within 
the authority of the Persian Government. 
Tt was now nearly two years since the Karun River had been declared open to 
navigation as far as Ahwaz, at which point there was a natural dam across the 
stream. A continuous steam service had, after much negotiation, been organised 
both above and below Ahwaz. Why was commerce still loth to enter and avail 
itself of the new trade routes? This was an important question which those 
interested in commercial geography would not hesitate to ask. The commerce of 
Great Britain and India with Persia had been estimated recently by a careful 
writer at a value of 2,500,000/. a year. That figure alone made it seem worth 
_ while to attempt an answer. The reasons might be briefly stated thus :—1. The 
collection of customs was still in a state of disorder; a settlement had been arrived 
at nearly a year ago between the British and the Persian Governments by which 
the customs were to be collected at Shushter, the port of terminus, but this im- 
portant measure still remained unfulfilled. 2. A postal service on the Karun 
required to be organised ; this was a matter for our own Government, and its im- 
portance had been pointed out by Colonel Bell and Sir R. Murdoch Smith. These 
were the leading obstacles to commerce as far as Shushter ; once it had penetrated 
thither it would soon pass further. The development of the short track to Ispahan 
was well within the power of the Persian Government. The advantages which 
would accrue to Persia by the use of the new trade routes would be enormous. 
The benefits to ourselves and to European commerce would not be insignificant. 
Tn the past our interest in Persia had been spasmodic ; sometimes we had thought 
no expenditure too extravagant, at others we had wrapped ourselves in a cold 
indifference to her fate. Would the new era repeat the uneven history of 
the old ? 
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5. 
The following Papers were read :— 
1. Notes on the Country lying between Lakes Nyassa, Rukwa, and 
Tanganyika. By Dr. Kerr Cross. 
This paper describes the Ukonda plains at the north and west of Nyassa, the 
people, their villages, banana groves, gardens, customs, &c. It also deals with the 
hill-countries north of these, describes their valleys and rivers. 
Then, leaving these, it describes the Stevenson road travelling from Karonga 
to the extensive plateau country between the two lakes. The stockaded villages 
of the people are described. The rivers are referred to—those running south into 
the Zambezi and the Indian Ocean, those south and west into the Chambezi being 
the eastern source of the Congo. The watershed of Lake Nyassa and Lake 
Rukwa are described, with the country around. This little-known and brackish 
lake, Leopold or Rukwa, is described, with the country at its south end. Certain 
of the rivers flowing into it are described. 
The commercial capabilities of Nyassaland generally are referred to ; its rain- 
fall, its temperature, the richness of its soil, and its capacity for raising European 
products. The question of native labour and European colonisation are pretty 
tully gone into. 
1 Printed in Proc. R.G.S. vol. xiii. 
