'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎67r] (138/416)

89
No. 20.
Bushahr to Bandar Abbas.
Distance, iw
MILES,
No. of
stage.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
M. P.
M. P.
Rbhabks.
strewn with the ruins of an ancient city. To east are the rounded, gravel, and sandstone
hills of the range Kuh Kaal or Kasab, and to west the precipitous and rugged range of Kuh
Kolonguk. Rivulets of running water, and small dry water-courses crossing the road are
of frequent occurrence. These, however, offer no difficulty whatever. At 14 miles 5 fur
longs we are abreast of Tang-i-Chakchak, and, half a mile further on, of Tang-i-Bachaki
both of which are passes through the range bounding the east side of the valley. At 15 miles
6 furlongs low gravel and sandstone hills commence to close in on the road, and to block the
south-east end of the valley. A quarter of a mile in advance the road, for a distance of half a
mile, is crossed by numerous rivulets of good water. At 16| miles the road enters, and as
cends for a quarter of a mile low sandstone hills by what appears to be the dry bed of a tor
rent. This pass is not difficult. We then descend by a gentle slope to the main valley,
about 6 miles broad, covered with grass, and dotted with Icanar bush. Six furlongs bring
us to a belt of date trees, which we enter, and at 17 miles 7 furlongs we ford the river Riz or
Baghan, as it is here called, which is about 20 yards broad, 6 inches deep and flows to north-
wqpt. Baghan is situated at the north end of a narrow spit of land not more than 100 yards
broad, the west, north, and east sides of which are cliffs from 15 to 36 feet high. To the
west of this spit runs the river Riz at the foot of a cliff 36 feet high. The hamlet contains
60 to 70 mat houses. Inhabitants about 200.
Supplies insignificant. No flocks or herds are to be seen. Water good and plentiful
from the river, and from a well 36 feet deep. Fuel : fair amount from kanar bush growing
in the valley. No cultivation excepting the date groves. Grazing very good. Camping-
grounds good.
Note. —There are, by native report, the two following alternative routes from Baghan to
Darwesha vi& the river Riz valley, between the ranges Kuh Kaal or Kasab on the south,
and Kuh Kantara on the north side:—
( 1 ) Initial bearing of the road from Baghan to the village of Kantara slightly N.
of N. W., and thence to Darwesha.
(2) Initial bearing of the road from Baghan to Khumbaruk village slightly W.
of N. N. W., and thence to Darwesha.
From Baghan also branches off a road over the hills to the seaport Dayyir. General
direction S. 5 E. Distance 25 miles. From native information.
General direction S. E. \ E. The road, traversing
a grassy valley, runs along the spit of land, about
200 to 300 yards in its broadest part. The river
Riz flows on the west side of the spit at the
bottom of a cliff, which diminishes in height as we advance southward. At 2 miles the cliff to
west of the road has merged in the plain, and we cross the dry and shallow bed of a water
course, called “ Kalabadu,” about 20 yards broad, draining westward to the river.
At 2 ^ miles we ford the river Riz, shelving banks, same breadth and depth as at Baghan. At
3 miles 7 furlongs the road ascends Kuh Tarjemi, a spur from the range to south-west barring
the south-east end of the valley. The ascent is difficult owing to its steepness and ruggedness.
At 4 miles 5 furlongs we reach the summit of the pass (roughly estimated height above the
valley 400 to 500 feet). The descent is comparatively easy. The pass is not broad enough
for field guns. It might probably be turned by following the course of the river Riz, of
which the bed, being gravelly or stony, is always firm, and the depth of the water, usually a
few inches only, does not, I believe, in any case exceed 3 feet. At 5 miles 5 furlongs we
finish the descent, cross a rivulet called “ Daria Mirza Kuh,” flow to north-east,'and enter on
a grassy valley about 4 miles broad, dotted with small bushes. In crossing Kuh Tarjemi, the
rate of travelling for loaded mules is If- miles per hour ; we now resume our usual rate, viz.,
2 miles 6’4 furlongs. The ground is broken at times, and covered x with ruins. At 9 miles
4 furlongs the road crosses the dry bed of a nala, and enters a defile between a range of
hills barring the south-east end of the valley. The rate of travelling for loaded mules now
Riz .
19-F2
119-0*8
1,495'.