'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎99r] (202/416)

03)
153
No. 29B.
Dizpul Pul-l Kul.
No. of
stage
DlSTAHCiS, IN
MILES.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Kbmabks.
be of great service. There is no village at Tabiran as it is only an “ ilyat ” stage. Supplies
none. Water, good supply from stream at the present time of year, but reported to become
scarce during months of Julv, August and September. Fuel.—Scarce, only a few kanar
bushes, camel-thorn, and wild almond trees. Forage.—Grazing is good until June.
2
Duma Kail
1,860'.
HI
19|
Bearing of general direction of route—north by
east. Ground on either side of road very broken
further
by de*'p ravines. At 2 miles, road passes through
a cltft or fissure in a low ridge of rock and little
on descends a few steps cut in conglomerate rock. Descends at 3f miles by easy
gradients of 4° to 5° and <Tosses a stream running south-vest. Notwithstanding broken
nature of country which consists of rows and rows or tiers of hummocky hills, there is con*
siderable cultivation. The soil is of a rich red colour with a quantity of slate appearing on
the surface. The ground now falls towards the north-west, as the valley of the Ab-i-Diz,
distant some 6 or 7 miles, is approached. At 5f miles cross a stream running north-west;
water, good. Camp close to a stream in the deep undulating plain of Duma Eail which is
considerably cut up by ravines. After deducting halts, actual time taken from Tabiran to
Duma Kail = 4 hours 35 minutes.
Only mountain batteries and infantry can manoeuvre here. Except for scouting, ground
too broken for cavalry action. About 7 miles to the north-west is the Kila Ab-i-Diz (Kila
Shahid), the strongest place the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. has.
Khan-i-Satfed
(camp.)
241
Bearing of general direction to spur of the
Sikeria mountain is north-east. From Duma Kail a
guide from the “ ilyats ” encamped here, he is abso
lutely necessary as the road or track now becomes
a mere goat path, often becoming invisible where it passes through long grass and patches
of cultivation with com or barley just ready to be cut. Ground very much broken up by
ravines. Soil is a rich red clay. Surface of ground now travel sed is of slate stone rock, in
which there are a few deep steps. A little further on track leads over a spur of the Sikeria
mountain at a height of 2,600 feet, and descends into the head of a small valley and across
a stream; and thence ascending, again up another spur becomes very stony and rough.
Supplies.—None. Water.—(>ood and plentiful at this time of year; June, July,
August, and September scarce. Forage.—At this time of year the grazing is excellent
although the ground traversed is rocky, stony, and broken. On return journey from Pul-i-
Knl one stage was made from Nurabad to Duma Kail. Time taken from Duu a Kail to
Khan-i-Safed = 2 hours 5 minutes.
Nubabad
12k 37
Passed over the north-east spur of the Sikeria
mountain, the bearing of general direction being
easterly, across the valley between the two moun-
- tain ranges of Sikeria and Lungar. The descent
mto the valley is difficult as it is over large boulders of conglomerate rock and loose stones,
dhe gradients are not very steep, excepting where the track descends to cross the beds of
several streams, which could easily be bridged over. Here and there a steep bit is met with
of about 9° gradient. At about 7 miles the track is bad for nearly thirty minutes as it
passes al<mg the side of the hill, the surface of which is of flint stone and verv slippery. It
v i ^°. mules over this portion of the track. At about 8 miles an old
Kala (or fort) called Barnesar, quite in ruins. A little further on the principal stream of
the valley is crossed flowing north-west to fall into the Ab-i-Diz. The nature of the soil
changes to gntrh (gypsum) and for an hour and a half ridges of gatch are constantly
crossed. During the last 2 miles the track lies over rich grassy undulating ground wpen the
camping ground of Nurabad is reached, at the foot of the Lungar mountain.