"الطرق في بلاد فارس. القسم III" [و‎‎٢‎٨‎٧] (٧٣٩/٥٧٨)

515
No. ^l—conid.
T ehran to A nzali, via Kishlak, Kasvin, fyc.
No.
D istances
in miles.
of
stage.
Names of stages.
Interme
diate.
Total.
E bmaeks.
7
M azeran
20
116
About 12 miles (3 farsakhs) from TCasvin is the
village of A^ha Baba, over the gate of which
are several large and good rooms where travel
lers, hf giving a present, may stay. These rooms
are for the convenience of the owner of the
village, who, however, rarely visits the place.
Agha Baba is rich in flocks and herds. A
carriage can be driven over the road from Kasvin
to Agha Baba, which, however, for the first 5
miles, is heavy after rain.
Shortly after leaving Agha Baba, the road enters
the mountains (a spur of the Alburz range), is
undulating and gradually ascending. Two far-»
sakhs from Agha Baba, somewhat off the cara
van road to the left is Mazeran*. a miserable and
small village, where no supplies can be obtained,
Midway between Agha Baba and Mazeran is a
small stream, probably dry in summer, which is
used for purposes of irrigation as frequent patches
of corn on the hillside testify. With the ex
ception of these patches there is scarcely any
vegetation.
From Mazeran the country becomes more moun
tainous. The road is gravelly, and the ascent
more marked. A stunted tree is occasionally
seen in the valleys. At about 2 farsakhs from
Mazeran the road becomes rocky in places and
runs along the mountain side overlooking a ravine
through which rushes a rapid stream fed by
springs running down the face of the moun
tains on either side. The water of these springs
is flowing towards the Caspain, thus showing
that the watershed or highest point of the moun
tain has been passed. At 3 farsakhs from
Mazeran, the fairly large village of Karza is
■ reached. Karza possesses a caravansarai fo^
the accommodation of animals, while good quar.
ters for travellers are easily procured at the Kid-
khuda's house. Supplies are obtainable here.f
8
P achinab
20
136
At Karza the road leaves the mountain torrent^
and the descent of the well known ^ Karza pass
is shortly commenced. The road is tortuous,
steep, and in places rocky, constantly descending
for 2 farsakhs, when a broad and partially dry
river-bed is reached, on the further side of which
is PachinarJ. This stream is liable to floods
and occasionally becomes impassable in the spring
* Here is the chaparkhanah, where post horses are obtained. . , ^
t Uetween Karza and Mazeran the road is during winter liable to become impassable from snow tor ten days
ft| a time.
X The second chaparkhanah or post-house i» here..