'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎64r] (132/416)

83
No. 20.
Bushahr or Bushire to Bandar Abbas.
Authority .— S. Butcher, March & April, 1888.
No. of
stage.
Names of stages.
Bushahr, Rishir,
and the Bushahr
Peninsula.
miles south of the town of
Distance, in
MILES.
Inter
mediate.
M. F.
Total.
M. F.
Remarks.
Full descriptions of the town and peninsula of
Bushahv to he found in the Gazetteer of Persia and
the P. G. Pilot. ^
The small village of Rishir is distant about 5
Bushahr, the latter being situated at the northern extremity of a
peninsula, extending 11 miles S. S. E. and N. N. W., by three miles in the centre, which is
its broadest part.
This peninsula is separated from the main land by the Mashileh, a salt water swamp, 12|
miles long by 4 to 6 broad, inundated by the sea at high tides.
To the south of the village of Kishir, distant about half a mile, are the mounds of the
earth-work called “ Kala Rishir,” which was taken by assault by the British troops in 1856.
A few hundred yards N. bj' E. of Rishir village are the British Telegraph buildings sub
stantially constructed of stone and mortar. From this place a good road, fit for wheel traffic,
leads into Bushahr.
In the villages of the peninsula the houses are for the most part built of stone.
Plentiful supplies from the town of Bushahr and villages. Water good and plentiful.
Fuel very scanty. Cultivation poor owing to rocky soil. Bate groves numerous. Grazing
in hot weather almost nil; in cold very scanty. Camping-grounds good and convenient in
and about the villages of the peninsula.
To the eastward of Rishir, distant about 27 miles, is seen a range of mountains of
heights varying from 4,000 to 6,500 feet. This range, which is visible from all directions,
and for many miles down the coast both to north and south, would seem to afford great faci
lities for signalling parties.
Note. —In the following route the rate of travelling with baggage mules, over ordinary
ground, is 2 miles 6‘4 furlongs per hour. Whenever, owing to the nature of the ground, the
rate differs from the above, it will be expressly noted, and the actual rate given.
Gurek* (or
Gurak.)
140'.
14—2-414—2.4
Rishir Telegraph Office, assumed altitude above
sea 80 feet.
Leave British Telegraph buildings. General
, direction E. At about 400 yards we cross a
main road from the town of Bushahr, leading to a village about £ mile south. Two hundred
yards to the north of this point are large stone buildings, called “ Imarat-i-Malik,” the
residence of the Governor of Bushahr. In the road-way, immediately to the west of these
buildings, are sunk many wells containing good water. Shortly after crossing the main
road, the track, which passes along under the telegraph line, becomes a mere bridle-path, and
continues thus to stage.
Country open; troops of all arms might move in any direction across country. At 1§
rmles the road, which had been rising gently, descends at a slope of about 5° to the
Mashileh. At 1| miles the villages of Imam Zada and Sabzabad, distant respec-
G u i> an ^ U1 ^ es sou ^ - Close to the latter village is the summer abode of
the British Resident. Shortly before reaching the Mashileh, the telegraph line diverges from
e road, and runs off in a north-easterly direction. Up to this swamp the ground is rocky,
and termed either of sandstone or shelly concrete. At slightly under 3 miles we arrive at
o wes edge ot the Mashileh, mud and water up to fetlocks, sometimes a little over. At 8
mi eS - i u !, » s ^‘ ie Mashileh finishes. Ground low and liable to inundation by high tides;
uvia soil; no vegetation except a few scattered marsh bushes. At 9 miles 3 furlongs we
a\e ie belt liable to inundation by the sea, and enter upon a grassy plain. At 10 miles
f r P, l1 ® s l °. w Camilla* hills, called “ Delwa,” distant about 5 miles to south, spring up
e P ain > w hich at 11| miles is widely cultivated with wheat and bai ley. At 12 miles
* For this ami next stage, see also No. 22, page 110.
K 2