‘Report of a journey through Persia.’ [‎7v] (15/186)

6
Report of a Journey through Persia.
Two ridges are crossed on this route.
Road now along a ravine through which runs a salt-water stream
the banks of which resemble partially-thawed snow, j to inches
thick. At iij miles reach the bed of the river Maheyrun flowing
east; water, salt; river jbed, 600 yards wide. Water from 15 to 40
yards wide. The bank on the south side at this point slopes gently
down to the water. The further bank is perpendicular and 30 feet
high, being composed of a mass of boulders of all sizes. Road now
along the right bank of the river until the 12th mile, when it crosses
the river at the head of a pool. Water 20 inches deep, flowing
slowly. Ascend out over a steep gravel bank, and at 12} miles halt
s.^Maheyrun. at the caravans erai of Maheyrun. Time 5 hours 40 minutes. Road
impassable for field guns or bodies of cavalry.
(Water from a bourkah.) Supplies, none. Camping ground stony
but spacious.
The river here is said to flow from Jamareen to Bander-I-Khamir
and then into the sea. Latitude 27 0 3' 13". Elevation about 1,250 feet.
December 23rd. —Weather fine. Temperature 56' ; '. Leave Mahey
run. Road over a stony plain ; at ^ mile turns to the left down a dry
nullah and, then skirts the right bank of the river for a short dis
tance. A few date and pomegranate trees about. .At 1 mile it crosses
a broad stony dry stream bed. It then runs over a level plain cover
ed with large stones, and at miles passes a small bourkah full of
good water. At 24 miles it passes 2 wells and 1 bourkah on the
left, a few plantations of date trees here ; then on amongst date trees
6. Khukhird. and cultivation to the village of Kukhird where I halt. Distance 4I
59*- m iies. Road good and passable to all arms. Time hours.
A small village with about 200 inhabitants. A few fields about sown
for barley, probably just sufficient for the requirements of the inhabit
ants.
Water plentiful from a kanat and from numerous wells, about 20
feet deep in a gravel soil. Supplies, little or none.
December 24th. Weather fine. Temperature, 47 0 at 5-45 a m
Leave Kukhird at 5-45 a.m. by a level road which at \ mile passes a tomb
on the right. Barley fields on the left and groves of date trees Road
stony. At 2\ miles pass through the small village of Harang of
about 30 houses. Barley just coming up here. Pomegranate trees about-
Twelve wells are visible to the left of the road being worked. Road
now over a plain covered with scanty tufts of grass. At 3I miles
cross a stony nullah when the road commences to ascend gently. At
44 miles it crosses a nullah withsteepbanksformed of gravel and bould
ers. At 5* miles a road branches off to the left rear to the town of
Jena which is now visible. Close by is a small caravan serai and two
bourkahs. At 54 miles the road winding round the foot of a rocky
range of hills on the left proceeds up a valley and, becoming very