'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎25v] (55/706)

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AQKA—ARAB
outer rampart to the chain, and through which the stream forces its way
by a tremendous chasm, cut almost perpendicularly in the naked rock;
this is the key to the pass, and a few resolute men might defend it success
fully against thousands. The road has been built up round the bluff edge
of the precipice, and is so narrow that two horsemen can barely pass each
other. Beyond the gorge, again, there is a very steep winding descent
down the face of the hill to regain the bed of the torrent, and the pass then
gradually opens on the valley of the Safid Rud. There are other passes,
the Kamchai and Tirichai, but the Aq-gaduk is considered by far the
easiest, and is the one generally followed. When in a state of repair, there is
no obstruction whatever to laden mules in the lower part of the pass ; but
during the winter there must always be difficulty in crossing the snowy
ridge at the summit; indeed it frequently happens that this is blocked
up for weeks together in a severe season. The length of the descent is
nearly 12 miles, with a general direction north 66° east. This pass is in
differently named the Aq-gaduk, or the defile of the Li wan Chai.— (Raw
lins on.)
AQKALEH—
A hamlet of fifteen houses in Kurdistan, 4 miles from Tikantappeh (q. v. )
and 66 miles south of Sain Kaleh on the road thence to Kirmanshah.
Water plentiful, supplies scanty.— (Nayier.)
AQ-KAND (the white village)—
Formerly a village in the Khalkhal district of Azarbaljan, on the high
road from Tabriz to Tehran, 28 miles south-east from Mlaneh, 34 miles
north-west from Zinjan. It is situated high. A spring and stream in
the vicinity afford excellent water.— (Morier.)
Probably the modern Aq-Mazar (q. v.) — (Schindler.)
AQMAZARDAGH—
A mountain in the north-eastern corner of the Afshar sub-district of
Azarbaijan.— (Schindler.)
AQMAZAR (“ the white tomb ”)— Lat. 36° 59'; Long. 48° 4'.
A small village with a post-house in the Khamseh district on the Tehran-
Tabriz road, 30^ miles from Zinjan. Water plentiful.— (Champain;
Schindler.)
AQSU—
A river which rises in the Lahijan district of Azarbaljan and, flowing
down the western border of Kurdistan, eventually joins the Tigris. It
passes through the deep valley of Sardasht on the road from Sauj Bulagh to
Sulaimanieh, and is crossed by a sharp and difficult ford.— (Fraser; Gerard.)
AQTAPPEH—
A village in the Ardabll district of Azarbaljan, one stage south-east of
Aslanduz on the road to Ardabll.— (Moner.)
’ARAB (1) (or ARABLE).— Elev. 2,000'.
A Persian village in Azarbaljan of from 80 to 100 houses, situated near,
the junction of the Zangmar-chal and Aras, from which it is distant about