'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎75v] (155/416)

106
No. 20.
Bushahr to Bandar Abbas.
INSTANCE, IN
No. of
stage.
MILKS.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
M. F.
M. F.
Remabks.
road, on the west, skirting low gravel hills or mounds, which at times form cliffs 60 feet or
so in height. At 7 miles 1 furlong we cross the dry stony bed of the river Hajamal, here
about 80 yards broad. The ordinary rate of travelling is now resumed. From this point
to stage the road very frequently crosses shallow rivulets of salt water, which, however, offer
no difficulty whatever. We are now clear of the defile, and the road, trending S. S. E.,
crosses for 5 furlongs an open and fairly level space, a mile or so in diameter, surrounded by
low hills. This place is named “ Derahi.” We then pass over level ground between detached
hills, or mounds from 30 to 100 feet high, the tops of which are level like tables. Beyond
these are low ranges of hills distant to east about 50 yards, and to west about a mile. At 8
miles 6 furlongs the road is crossing small mounds of earth for over 100 yards,
then level spaces between small mounds or hills, the latter, at times, opening out or dis
appearing, leaving an open space to the low ranges on the east and west. At 9 miles 6 fur
longs we cross the dry bed of a shallow water-course containing pools of salt water, varying
from 100 to 200 yards in width ; flow westerly. The road then, passing along its south-west
bank for half a mile, enters among low dried up mud hills. These continue for about 1 5
furlongs, when we cross a level open space, and, at 10 miles 5 furlongs, ascend a short and
slight slope,_ and pass between a chaos of dried mud hillocks. The hillocks rise directly
from the side of the road, which is not, in places, more than 6 to 10 feet broad. It
might, however, be easily widened. At 11 miles 3 furlongs the defile, bordered by barren, bare
hills, dried mud and gravel, has opened out, and varies from 100 to 200 yards in breadth.
The ground, at times gravelly and stony, at other times earthy, is bare of vegetation save
for some scattered furze. Two furlongs in advance the road passes the old and rather dila
pidated caravansarai of Bastu-Komaku. At 12 miles 6 furlongs we strike the river Hajainal,
salt water running, a few inches deep, and 30 to 40 feet broad ; bed varying in width from 150
to 200 yards. The basin is shallow, and banks generally shelving. The road now enters a defile
called lang-i-Shuk, about 200 yards broad. The ground is of a stony gravel, with small
furze and occasional kanar bush, but devoid of grass. The river Hajamal, distant about 40
yards from the south side of the road, runs at the bottom of a sandstone cliff 120 feet in
height. The north side of dafile is bordered by gravel hills 60 to 100 feet high, sloping up at
an angle of 20 to 30°. At 13 miles 7 furlongs we pass Sartang caravansarai, and two
cisterns, the latter being full of good water. Altitude, 1,144 feet. There is a grove of date
trees about a quarter of a mile to N. E. of the caravansarai, also a rivulet of water, the
banks of which are overgrown with tamarisk jungle ; a short distance to the eastward the
ground rises in steep and precipitous hills. Supplies nil. Water good. Fuel moderate,
from tamarisk jungle and date trees. Cultivation nil. Grazing fair. Camping-ground
good.
The road then runs south-east, and at 1 furlong from the caravansarai, crosses the river
Hajamal, which is here called “ Shurwater very shallow, a few inches only in depth. At 14
miles 2 furlongs the road, which is the bed of the river Shur, enters the pass called “ Tang-i-
Dalan, ” at this point 60 to 70 yards broad, with perpendicular cliffs on either hand. The
breadth of the pass never much exceeds this, and is simply the bed of the river Shur, over
which meanders a small stream of salt water. The hills on either side of the Tang are
rocky, and either slope up very steeply, or rise in lofty precipices. When one side slopes,
the other is perpendicular. The slopes on the eastern side are generally practicable for
infantry and mule batteries. The surface of the pass, or river bed, presents a smooth, firm
surface of white sand. After traversing the pass for one mile, the total breadth of the gorge
is only 30 yards. As we near the eastern mouth of the Tang, the sides of the gorge gradu
ally decrease in height, till at 17^ miles they merge in a vale, sparsely covered with grass,
upon which, on surmounting a short and gentle slope, we enter. The two dilapidated cara-
vansarais of Pas-Par-Dalan, with two cisterns, and a grove of date trees, are close to the
south side of the road, and 400 yards to north of a low but steep and rocky range, about
200 feet high, over which a path, for infantry only, leads to the village of Balan, distant