'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎99v] (203/416)

154
No. 29B.
Dizful to Pul-i-Khl.
No. of
stage.
Distance, in
miles.
Names of stages.
Inter-
mediate. Total *
Rkmabks.
Supplies.—None. Water.-Good and plentiful at this time of year, but reported to
become scarce during months of July, August and September. Fuel.-Plentiful. Forage
— The grazing is excellent up to the middle of June. After deducting halts, actual time taken
from Khan-i-?afed to Nurabad=o hours 40 minutes.
Pahraj
4,*250'.
46
Bearing of general direction is easterly. Track
crosses some low hills near foot of the Lun<>ar
mountain. Gradients of the track are not steep,
but it is bad going as it is over large loose stones
which makes it heavy for animals. Track now passes over hillside of slippery sand-stone
rock, where several mules came to grief. A little further on the track becomes fairly
good, and descends to a river-bed, down a steep spur of a hill of slope of which is
15°. Track goes along the river-bed, which is 150 to 200 yards broad with only 2 feet
of water in the centre (height 2,900'), for about 4 miles, when it leaves river bed and ascend*
up side of hill by steep gradients of 8° to 12° to 4,300', and then descends into a valley where
the remains of numerous “ ilyat ” camps are found ; this spot is called Pahraj. Country
very mountainous, woody, and very stony. The whole distance from Nurabad to Pahrai
would require to be considerably improved by a pioneer battalion before any large transport
could be sent np, as with only ten mules great difficulty was experienced in getting them
over the difficult portion of the track. Supplies.—None. Water.—Good supply from small
stream near camping-ground. Fuel.—Plentiful, mostly oak trees. Forage.—Grazing ex
cellent. The great length of time taken in this day’s march, in proportion to the actual
distance, is owing to the difficult ground traversed. After deducting halts, actual time taken
from Nurabad to Pahraj, 4 hours 40 minutes. Ground only fit for infantry and mule bat
teries.
6
Chalun
12
58
Bearing of general direction of route northerly.
Track very stony over some small hills and
down a steep pass or dry watercourse, 35° slope,
‘ n t° a deep ravine, then ascends up the side of the
Salun mountain, also up a dry watercourse 15° slope, but more difficult as the boulders are
larger, seveial times ramps had to be built to get the animals over these huge masses of
rock, one mule having rather a bad fall backwards.
After leaving the top of the watercourse continue up a zigzog path, the general gradient
of which is about 5°, passing at the same time through a thick forest of stunted oaks. The
soil here is a rich, red clay. About 2| miles further the forest ceases, and the ascent becomes
very steep again, having a slope of about 20°. Ground surface of grey sandstone rock,
which is very slippery. Several mules here come to grief, and the ground is difficult even
for men. At about 10 miles the first water is met with, since leaving Pahraj, in a spring on
the left hand of the track. Surface of the ground is of white sandstone rock, very difficult
to walk or ride over. Bearing of general direction of track now changes to easterly and
descends to the head of a narrow valley, thickly wooded with oak, by a zigzag path, gradients
of which are 5 to 6 , and then follows the general course of a stream flowing easterly,
which is crossed and recrossed several times, until the “ ilyat ” camping-ground of Chalnn
is reached. After deducting halts, actual time taken from Pahraj to Chalun = 4 hours 15
minutes. Supplies.—None. Water.—Plentiful and good from stream. Fuel.—Plenty of
oak and other trees. Forage.—Grazing excellent.
Nukdar
4,350'.
15
73
The track stony and crosses and reerosses stream
fourtimes during half an hour. Depth of stream
18 inches to 2^ feet. Bearing of general direction
easterly for first hour when track turns north a’ong
dry bed of a stream, then along a ravine for twenty minutes (difficult, over stony