"الطرق في بلاد فارس. القسم III" [و‎‎٢‎٧‎٥] (٧٣٩/٥٥٤)

491
No. 217— co7ifd.
Tehran to Astrabad, via Amxd y Barfarush y Sari and Ashraf,
No.
of
stage.
Names of stages.
Distances
i if MILES.
.
R emakks .
Intei*-
mediato.
Total.
6
9
A mul
•
19
1204
Road for first (5 miles north along bank ; 60
to 60 feet above stream slopes becoming gradual
ly more wooded and less precipitous as valley
descends. Thence, still following left bank of
Haras, mad passes over firm grand turf. Valley
open with fine park-like scenery to 12 miles.
Thence to 14 or 15 miles road is deep and heavy
in forest of alder, oak, elm, which fills valley of
Haras, and rises to 4,000' or 5,000' up mountain
slopes. At 14 miles cross canal by stone bridge
and pass village of Alam-Sar. 8 houses. The new
road from Tehran and Dainavand, followed so far,
here falls into the old track. Thence to Amul
the track runs north beside the Haras, over un-
dnlating country, well cultivated with rice.
Canals numerous but shallow, and fields slightly
fenced. The Haras or Haras-chai has a good
sound gravelly bed, and is fordable everywhere,
except after spring floods. Country descends to
within 5 or 6 miles of Amul. Canals make it
difficult to cross. The banks of river are high and
well wooded.
Ouseley says of that stage
For first 3 miles road runs in bed of stream, on
over short pieces of causeway, in places not more
than 3 or 4 feet broad, cut in steps on the side of
the hill, and formed of layers of wood and stone
placed on deep clay, the natural soil of the hill.
This causeway is almost impassable to horsemen
and laden mules, and is fast .falling into utter
decay. Commencing at the third mile, there is
a stretch of this kind for 2 miles on left bank.
The hills commence to be wooded 2 miles after
leaving Parnsp. The remains of an ancient and
more substantial road, built up against the solid
rock on the other side of the stream, are visible,
and are probably the work of Shah Abbas ; but
earth-quakes and torrents have nearly destroyed
it, and travellers prefer the modern causeway
although the distance by it is greater. At 5
miles the valley through which the stream flows
to the plain expands to 400 yards, and road pro
ceeds down bed of stream in northerly direction.
At 11 miles stream emerges from valley, and 5
miles beyond Amul is reached.
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