'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎62v] (129/416)

80
No. 19.
Bandar Didam to Shustar, vid Bch'-ahan,
No. of
stage.
Names of stages.
Distakcb, in
MILKS.
Inter
mediate.
Total,
Rrmarks.
4
Behbahan
1,300'.
Kai Kaus
24
56
631
Over very undulating ground.
The road lay across a plain, which extends from
E. to W. for upwards of 29 miles, and has a black,
fertile soil, to the village of Kai Kaus, 7^ miles
N.-W. of Behbahan.
About 3| miles from the latter place, we crossed the river Kurdistan, which is fordable at
this spot, leaving on our right, a little up the stream, the village of Kazim, and on the left
the villages of Horestan, Kurdistan, and Husainabad.
Baba-Ahmad . | 24
87|
Started at a quarter-past 6. At half past 7 ve
came to an old square building in the form of a
Musalman Imamzada. After we had crossed a
low range of calcareous hills, we reached at 8
o’clock the village of Chahar-ru.
Continuing in a N.-N.-W. direction, at 9 a.m. I reached Tashun (9 miles). Here there
is a spring of very clear water where sacred fish are kept.
We now moved N.-W., having to our right stupendous mountains,bearing from S.-E. to
N.-W., and another range of calcareous hills of less altitude, in a parallel line, on the left.
The road soon became very rugged, and the country around us dreary and entirely devoid of
vegetation. We crossed the dry beds of several mountain streams, and arrived at the
entrance of Tang-i-Saulak at noon after a tedious march of three hours. We entered the
narrow defile, hemmed in between lofty rocks, which overhang the way. A mountain stream
flowed below. As we toiled on by a steep ascent, among loose stones, we came at times upon
an old pavement, the polished stones of which were so slippery that the horses could with
difficulty advance. The path soon widened, and we found ourselves in a grove of oaks,
cypresses, and a tree peculiar to the southern parts of Persia, called the kuhnar.
There is said to exist a communication between this spot and Isfahan ; and, though the
road be very steep and rugged, still, to judge by the slippery worn-out pavement above alluded
to, it formerly must have beeu much frequented.
It was nearly night when we emerged from the defiles of Tang-i-^aulak, and the Imam,
zada of Baba-Ahmad was still 1| farsakhs (6 miles) distant. The road lay through an
uneven country.
At first we skirted the mountain of Nauzar, and proceeded, after having rounded it, over
uneven ground, much resembling that which we had passed over the previous day, consisting
chiefly of gypsum hillocks, entirely destitute of habitations, but offering here and there
patches of green turf and brushwood, especially along the valley of a mountain stream which
we crossed. Baba-Ahmad has some clear springs, and is surrounded by high reeds and
grass.
Sarila
32i
120
The road now winds over a hilly country in a
N. W. direction. We soon crossed the river
Moghar, coming from Tang-i-Moghar, and soon
after another river. Both are greatly choked up
with bushes, in which lions are said to hide themselves during the day.
At three-quarters-past 7, crossed another mountain stream. At 9 an ascent, and then a
steep descent—the country much broken into hill and dale. At quarter-past 9 the village of
Bul-fariz, discernible to the N. N. E. At half-past 9 crossed the river of Bul-fariz. At a
quarter-past 10 a.m. turned tc N. N. W.. and passed by the remains of some stonewalls. At
three-quarters-past 10 crossed two rivulets—the second was a stream of some size, but both
were overgrown with high reeds {kamish). At 11 a.m. ascended a hill and went along a
high table land with traces of cultivated ground and former habitations.
At a quarter-past 11 a.m. crossed a stream covered with reeds, the country still hilly and
the mountains of Nauzar discernible to the S. E. At noon we were toiling up a very steep
and craggy ascent winding among high mountains, which commanded it on the right and
left.