'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III. PART I: A to K' [‎110r] (224/1278)

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to have been grown in the immediate locality. The Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. attributed the
almost total disappearance of this tree to their system, not only of cutting
down, but also of digging up, the roots for firewood. What has happened
here is evidently likely to be realised in those parts which are still, though
only lightly, wooded. The oak, of all trees, seems to grow most naturally,
but is rarely seen of a height exceeding 40 feet. Other kinds are the ash,
walnut, plane, elm, poplar, willow, ilex, beech, wild-rose, briar, hawthorn,
maple, fig, vine, almond and hop. Of arborescent and herbaceous plants
the variety is very extensive and their natural characteristics are those of
a temperate climate. Of the Astragalus in particular there are many
species, of which the most interesting probably are the A. Anisacanthus
(gaz) and A. Heratensis (gun tragacanth). The manna tree produces long,
flat, horizontal branches, which get covered with the sugary excretion.
When ripe, the natives place sheets of cloth on the grounds underneath the
small trees, which they beat with sticks and thus collect the gaz, or manna,
on the cloths below. The gum tragacanth is collected and placed in small
leather bags, in which it is exported for sale to Isfahan and other places.
Rivers .—Nature as may be expected in a country of this physical
formation, has been lavish in its water-supply, and that of the finest
quality in so far as the highlands are concerned. It is, however, a curious
fact that in the lower and pasture lands the water is, for human purposes,
more or less undrinkable ; and the brackish streams considerably outnumber
the sweet waters. Commencing from the northern end of the country,
in which as is natural, the more important rivers have their birth, and
taking them in this order from the map we find—
(l) The Zindeh Bud. This river has several sources ; the principal
being those from the Zardeh Kuh and the Galgushak ; the
Chashmeh-i-Jaihun or Kuh-i-Bang; the Ab-i-Zarin and the
Ab-i-Chaman-dar. It runs north-east through the Tang-i-
Gaz, dividing Faridan, a district in the Isfahan province, from
the Chehar Mahal still flowing north-east it receives from the
north-west a considerable stream in the Khursang, after a course
of some 50 miles and near to the Kuh-i-Mashzad. It then flows
due east, till at 80 miles it alters its course almost due south
and later south-east, and waters the broad valley of upper
Linjan. The point where it bends north-east to leave the
valley, after a course of some 160 miles, may be taken to be
its limit on the border of the Bakhtiari territory ; which has
never extended beyond its right bank. (For description of
the river’s farther course, vide Gazetteer of Persia, Vol. II.)
During this 160 miles of its course, it is crossed by four bridges—
(i) Wooden bridge, only erected in spring, a few miles above Darsu-
vadjan in Faridan.
(ii) Pul-i-Zaman Khan, a stone bridge at 110 miles.
(m) Pul-i-Bagh Badran, a wooden bridge.
(iv) Pul-i-Kaleh, at the village of Madraseh at 140 miles. A masonry
bridge of 8 arches in excellent condition.
The river has a sluggish stream for the greater part of the year, owing to
the comparatively slight drop in elevation from its rise until it disappears
Pt. L I