'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎46r] (96/416)

57
No. 15.
Bandar Abbas lo Jask, vid Minab.
Distance, in
No. of
stage.
MILES.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Rkm&bks,
must not be forgotten : it is impossible to say which is the best route ; after heavy rain or in
times of high spring tides the southern route is impracticable, then the middle route must be
taken; if excessively high floods are prevalent, the northern route must be adopted: all three
routes are available for” all arms at their proper seasons, and the plain contains numerous
villages, wells, and cultivation ; also grass, wood, and grazing, so the selection of good halting-
places would not be difficult. General direction W., i.e., parallel to the coast.
For description of Minab and of landing-place, Shahbandar or Khor Minab, vide page
206-7, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Pilot, 3rd edition, 1890. Continuing from Minab :
Kalavi
22
76
Gebu
20
96
For some little distance the road passes between
some low sandstone bills on the left, and the date
grove on the right ; it then cuts into the plain
bearing nearly due S.; about here not much cul
tivation, the plain, however, is covered with camel-thorn and low scrub. At 5th mile pass
through the bed of a small stream without any water. Country very flat, and the going soft.
At 10 a.m. halted close to a river and near to a small village called Chah Kambar. Cross
the river at a place called Ju Mahallah, a small village of 3 or 4 houses. On the hill top,
nearest to the ford, is a small round tower in ruins. The stream is broad, but not deep.
This stream rises in the Basbakird hills, and winds out of the plain to the sea. The rest of
the way the ground is very soft.
Eoad across a very bad bit of ground, generally
soft, and in some places deep. At 3rd mile out
of the bad ground on to some good hard-going at
the back of a date grove and along the base of
some small hills. At 5th mile Kuhistak, a village on the coast, with a fort situated on a
small isolated hill, about 80 feet to 100 feet high, close to eastward of village. Inhabitants
chiefly fishermen. Cross at its mouth a small stream, called Chalak. After leaving this, the
road goes along the sands quite close to the sea ; course due S. ; the Arab coast to be seen to
the W. and S. W. At 9^ mile cross another stream. At 14th mile pass a village in the
sandhills to the left, about a mile off, called Ziarat. The road still on the sands, with the sea
about 100 yards off. Geru is a mile inland among sandhills. Water from a small stream.
Population 400 or 500.
For about 2 miles follow the line of sandhills.
From this point out on to an open plain with
lots of camel-thorn and low scrub all about. At
the 3rd mile the village of Tahrui ; at 6 miles
another village called Serik.
On the left, hills of fairish height, about 3 miles off. On the right a succession of date
groves, and the sea in the far distance. The ground all about soft-going. A number of
small streams full of muddy water to be passed. These streams are evidently the draining
of the bills to the left. None of them of any importance. At 11th mile village of Kardar ;
at 14th the Gaz river, a deep, swift-flowing stream, about 60 yards across and running
about 6 miles an hour. Very often impassable for days together. The village of Gaz is
about 2 miles beyond on the further side. It only contains about 20 houses.
Through a small date grove into the plain.
The road in places very bad. At 4th mile Gawan.
At 8 miles cross a shallow river between steep
high banks; bed 160 yards broad. At 10th mile
Karat is a Baluchi village of 20 houses.
S.-E. for about a mile under the hills. The
ground in the centre of the plain much cut up by
rains, and bad-going. Pass a narrow, but deep,
bed of a stream, with but little water in it,
6
Gaz
16
112
Kabat
Zarabad, and at 13th Sakui.
8
Gatan
16
20 £
128
im