'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎84r] (172/416)

123
No. 22.
Bush ah r to Niriz. via Jahtum and Fusa.
Distance, in
MILKS.
Rkmabks.
No. of
stage.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
15
Fasa
4,530 f .
Miundeh s a tair sized village, suituuuubu uy i j
irrigated and cultivated. Chief crop appears to be;o«;ar*. I here are not many cows or
2 °: however. A tew horses are bred here, about half a d.-zen brood mares bein? kept.
Leaving here the road continu-s on through a fertile and well cultivated tract of country
tell irrigated both with kavats and surface channels. Zahrdeb is a large village, with
Lit gardens and a few date palms, and a quantity of cultivation around it so that
"'lies of grain are assured. There are also at least 100 cows, and from 300 to 400 sheep
and goats available. A large white domed tomb close to village on north-west side forms
a good landmark for these parts.
17 i 235 Leaving Zabrdeh road leads north of west. Passes
conspicuous white dome of a tomb. Condition of
track very good at this Imt time of year ; but
owing to superabundance of water-supply, liable
to become impassable during rainy weather. Whole country well culti vated. Village of
Ferdisbkuh at 4 miles. This is a large village, with extensive fruit gardens and excellent
cultivation. Supplies here very good. Water abundant. About 1 5 miles to the east is the
smaller village of Cbannakuh, also thriving and prosperous. Leaving b erdishkuh, road
turns north Condition still good. Reaches entrance to smah pass. A little difficult m
places during the passage of this, owing to the numerous water-courses which intersect, but
Jo steep gradients. The ground rises very gradually right up to Fasa. On emerging from
pass the fertile plain of Fasa is reached, well cultivated and dotted over with numerous
small vidages and camps of lliyats. At 11 miles village of Mardabad enclosed m a square
of mud walls. Continue on north over the open plain Cross small stream at 13, miles
and reach Kelat Zuhak, a small village with 40 inhabitants. Track crosses bed of deep
nala with shelving banks, from which most of the water has been drawn off for irrigation
purposes On ri-ht bank of this nala is the village of Deb Dashtak or Khairabad. Road
passess through it, and goes due north to Fasa Fairly easy going, but the surface
irrigation channels occasionally present obstacles, and would hamper the movement ot held
guns. Road throughout from Jahrum very good. No steep gradients or stones ; m fact the
whole way is over a succession of plains, rising with an almost imperceptible slope. Troops
could move easily on this route. The only things to impede artillery are the irrigation
channels which cross the road. These, as a rule, are only spanned by a bridge about 1 yard
wide. Some places also in wet weather get very deep and sticky, basa has a population of
4,000. Its principal trade is in onium and tobacco, which go to Shiraz. Ihe opium tiade
varies, some years as much as 5,000 mans* bein^r exported, while in a bad \ ear perhaps only
3 000 There is a small manufactory of hookahs mb earthenware, and lar^e numbers of
chaddahs are made here. Supplies are excellent. There is a very good bazar thatched
in with boughs, with stream of water running down the centre, t ruit, vegetables, and
lucerne grass are especially good here, and all the ordinary supplies are obtainable in
considerable quantities from the surrounding country and villages. There aie two caravan-
sarais, and a po>t office was started ; but as no one used it, it was done away with, ihe
t< wn is governed by a 'noib, who also governs the neighbouiing small villages. The date
pjilrn flourishes here, so the cold cannot be excessive. Snow, however, lies on Kuh Tudej
during the winter months ; during the summer the heat is not very great.
1H Karim . . 12 247 l!oad leads up to head of valley, following the
course of the stream. Very good order. Large
amount of cultivation on both sides, a great
deal being lucerne grass; also several large
fruit gardens. Village of' Akbarabad at 4 j miles. Fruit gardens and cultivation. From
here on lor some distance country uncultivated and covered with low bushes and shrubs.
At 6f miles road becomes stony and, ascending a small ridge, leaves the plain. At 8£ miles
* One man =7^ lbs. 5,000 mans ■=• *bout 17 tons.