'Military Report on (S.-W.) Persia, Volume V. Luristan' [‎54v] (113/152)

91
Route No. l6.-~contd.
the march.
Camp in valley 7 54J Gen. dir. S. S. E. Leave the spring in
(4,200'). the Asmanabad valley and march in a
a gen. dir. S. E. by E. over the valley,
which is level and descends slightly during
The road is good and skirts the low wooded hills on the right, at the
foot of the higher range of hills ; in that direction, the plain is about 2 m. in breadth.
The Gardan-i-Kamar Zard leading into the Gowar valley is seen on the left, crossin" the
Kaluja range and about 2 m. to the E. of it is the Gardan-i-Warmazir. At 2£ m. reach
the ruins of Asmanabad where are the remains of a fort and some houses built of stone.
The hills on the right have fallen back and the Gardan-i-Durugeh is visible crossing them
to the S. It leads to Aiwan distant 2 farsakhs. Another pass to the E. to the
Gardan-i-Gazlan, enters the valley visible in that direction, and crosses the Kuh Kaluja
into Gowar. Road down the right bank of a stream passing some wells and springs on its
banks. At 2 f m. cross the stream and proceed on in a S. W. direction across cultivation
and amongst camps of llidts. At 3f m. pass Kura Chiah, a small pointed hillock on the
left bank of the stream. It may have once been built upon. Direction now more to the
N. and nearly S. E. by E. At 4f m. pass another but smaller mound on the right of
the road and covered with loose stones, cross the valley, stream 3 ' broad but with a 10 '
steep right bank and a low left one (4,200') continue down the valley skirting the foot of
the hills on the right. At m. pass a large tree on a low hill on the right of the road
and at 7 m. halt in the valley. Road good and passable to all arms throughout except
at stream, where soil being soft, a passage could be cut for guns in half an hour. Camp in
the valley ; water_ plentiful from a stream and firewood from the hills. There are crops,
cultivation and Hat camps a little lower down. The road down the valley runs on to
Chahar Da war. E. (24,400').
Aiwan valley
(4,390').
10 i
64J
Gen. dir. S. by W. Road back along pre
vious stage for J m. past the tree on the
hills on the left and a little beyond it.
Then S. by a track entering the hills,
over some low hills and across a broad, dry and stony watercourse, direction
S. W. across a stretch of level ground and then up by an easy road over hills,
with a gradual slope amongst forest trees. At2£ m. the track becomes covered with
loose stones which make progress slow and difficult; this continues with a few short
breaks here and there till the Aiwan valley is reached. At 3 | m. descend along a rocky
slope by a bad bit of road and cross a dry water course, ascend by a difficult track
and at 4 m. reach Chah Gum-Gum, a well in a level bit of rocky ground with a good water-
supply ; numerous heaps of loose stones in the vicinity are said to be the remains of an
ancient town ; Genl. dir. S. W. At 6 £ m. reach the summit of the Gardan-i-Darreh
Darigh (Kurdi), or Darrah Daraz, (Persian) (6,200'). The gardan is about 100 yards
broad between low accessible hills. Descend by a road, very bad on account of rocks
and loose stones, down a narrow valley, with a dry watercourse on the right, cross the
water-course twice. At 8 £ m. there are high cliffs some distance apart on either side.
At 9| m. the road leaves the forest, and the hills on either hand recede. At 9 f m. pass
a small tree standnig by itself in the valley, cross an irrigation stream and at lOJm. "reach
a good stream about 14' broad containing 18" of water and with easy banks, flowing N. W.
down the Aiwan valley. A very bad road on account of loose stones and rocks. Im
passable to guns. This stage took 4£ hours to traverse on horseback. There is an
alternative route for the first 3 m. passing to the E. of the route described. Camp on the
left bank of the stream. Water and firewood plentiful. Cultivation and crops lower
down the valley. A fine and fertile valley enclosed north and south by high hills, a
road runs down it to Mandallj.
8
ChaVaR valley
(3,550'),
10 i
75
Genl. dir. S. S. E. Cross the stream about
14' broad, with easy banks and go up the
valley in a S. E. direction towards the
hills on the south side of the valley, the
Chira Zauil range. At J m. the road whicn ascends gradually becomes bad from loose
atones. Dir, S., up over the hills, road, now very bad on account of loose stones