RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1974
https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/x633mp077
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LIST OF MEMBERS

ORDINARY MEMBERS:

THROWER, Prof. L. B.

TISDALL, Brian

TOMLIN, Mrs. I.

TONG, Louis

TORRANCE, J. R.

TOOGOOD, C. W.

TRISTRAM, M. P. W.

TSE, Charles

TSO, Mrs. Priscilla

TURNER, H. D.

TWEEDIE, Howard

TWITCHETT, Miss Yvonne

TYLER, Mr. & Mrs. M. R.

VEEVERS, Miss Kathleen J.

VETCH, Mr. & Mrs. Henri

VISICK, Mrs. Mary

Flat 6B, University Residence No. 6,

Chinese University of Hong Kong.

7, Stanley Mound Road, Stanley, H.K.

12A, Broadwood Road, 1st floor, H.K.

Connaught Centre, 35th floor, H.K.

A2, 2 Vista Panorama, Amonoda Road,

Kowloon Tsai, Kowloon.

c/o Oxford University Press, 5th floor,

News Building, 633 King's Road, H.K.

Rating & Valuation Dept., Murray House,

Garden Road, H.K.

59-61 Wong Chuk Hang Road, 1st floor,

Aberdeen, H.K.

Dept. of Extra Mural Studies, University of

Hong Kong, Pokfulam, H.K.

History Dept., University of Hong Kong,

Pokfulam, H.K.

Officers' Mess, Grenadier Guards, Stanley

Fort, H.K.

c/o Island School, Bowen Road, H.K.

402, Tregunter Mansions, 14 Old Peak Rd.,

H.K.

79, Mount Nicholson Gap, H.K.

10A, Belmont Court, 10, Kotewall Road,

H.K.

Dept. of English, University of Hong Kong,

Pokfulam, H.K.

WADIA, Mr. & Mrs. R. J.

WALDEN, J. C. C.

WATERS, D. D.

WATT, J. C. Y.

WEBB, Miss Susan M.

WEBBER, Dr. & Mrs. J. H.

WEI, Dr. Tat

WENG, Mrs. Gloria

WESTCOTT, K.

WHITELEY, Mrs. I. E.

502, La Hacienda, 31 Mt. Kellet Road,

The Peak, H.K.

1 Homestead, The Peak, H.K.

c/o Education Dept., Lee Gardens, Hysan

Avenue, H.K.

Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin,

N.T.

Flat 4, 5A Garden Road, H.K.

Fanling Hospital, Fanling, N.T.

3 Fontana Gardens, 5th floor, Causeway

Hill, H.K.

1 Essex Crescent, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon.

The British Council, Star House, 3rd floor,

Kowloon.

8C London Court, 41A Conduit Road, H.K.
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RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2003
https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/2v242g390
190

of his first command and the position of trust in which his employers had placed him. The Euphrates and Tigris Shipping Company had come into possession of the Shushan after it was no longer required for the Nile expedition and decided to use it to extend their operations into South West Iran up the Karun River beyond Ahwaz. They were already running a regular passenger and freight service up to Ahwaz but were unable to proceed further because of a series of rapids that had effectively closed the river to conventional steam traffic.

Plant picked up his new command at Basra and was introduced to his engineer officer, a young Englishman called Stanley Webber with whom he would be sharing his Persian adventure. Together, they and a temporary crew from Basra, made their way down the Shatt al Arab to Mohammerah, a town at the mouth of the Karun River and from there, up river to Ahwaz. His next task was to take the Shushan up and over the rapids at Ahwaz, where the water rushed down a seemingly impenetrable rocky slope although, it was said, there were a few fast water channels through which the craft might proceed with safety provided it had sufficient paddle power. To be on the safe side he obtained some long safety lines and hired a crowd of pullers and heavers to man them should the craft not be able to manage the rapid under its own steam.

River pilotage

Thus, all was made ready for the assault on the feared Ahwaz rapids. The great day came and so did the crowds to see the fun - but his hard work and planning paid off. With a full head of steam and Plant on the wheel the Shushan climbed the first rapid and then went full ahead upstream for the next gap between two great rocks where the river 'poured through like a sluice.' She just made it and then moved up to through the next rapid that was just a little easier and finally entered the calmer waters above the town. Here, the crew was discharged and sent back to their home port while Plant made preparations for taking the Shushan on its first trip to Shuster some 50 miles up river.

First, he had to find and train a permanent crew, including someone with knowledge of the river and a Tindal (bo'sun) to take charge of the deck hands. He also needed an interpreter, through whom he could give instructions to the crew, most of whom spoke no English. He would

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