'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎100v] (205/416)

156
No. 30.
Dizful to Ispahan, via Kula Baznft.
No. of
stage.
Distanck, in
MILKS.
Names of stages.
Inter- ma. _»
mediate. Total -
Bbuabks.
daily. The soil of a rich red clay. Two small streams are crossed, the second just above
a waterfall, both running south-east; water good. Track lies along a high ridge for some
distance and then follows the course of a small stream and parses through a deep ravine.
A large stream is then crossed 20 to 30 yards broad, flowing south-east.
This is the worst part of the road as some of the descents into the stream ar s very steep,
3°. Steps are very deep, otherwise the stage is an easy one for mules. Near the end of the
march the now nearly dry bed of a large stream is crossed.
Sar-i-Dasht is on the river Donoban, the bed of which is 40 to 50 yards broad with high
perpendicular banks. Ford at this time of year about 1^’ to 2' deep, but banks show signs
of water rising 8' ami 9' higher. Current not very swift. Actual time taken, deducting
halts, from Dumakail to Sar-i-Dasht = 7 hours.
Population about 40 to 60 people. Huts principally of mud and stone with thatched
roofs. There are two forts here—one in fairly good repair ; the other in complete ruins,
surrounded by numerous mounds; there are also the remains of an ancient reservoir and a
beautiful level piece of ground with goal posts of stone a: either end Supplies.—Can be
estimated by the number of inhabitants; they have, however, very large herds of goats and
cattle. The country round is well cultivated and irrigated. Fuel.—Scarce. Water.—Plen
tiful and good from river. Grazing.—Good.
Salwati . . 14 , 47g Bearing of general direction of route, south
1,800'. Track for an hour lies over a gentle, undulating
and fertile plain, then passes a Ziarat on the left
hand. Ground now becomes again broken on either
side of the track, which for a couple of hours passes in and out of deep ravines and becomes
very stony and leads over tiers of limestone ridges. For half-au-hour the track now lies over
open ground, and then rises gradually up the side of a mountain. After descending again a
river (name unknown) is forded. Width at crossing 75 yards, current very rapid ; depth
of water up to horse’s girths, banks show signs of water rising to considerable height above
present level. Bed of stream pebbly. A steep climb up the other bank of 30° slnpe leads
on to an undulating plain. For another 21 hours the track lies over the abovementioned
plain, when another scream is reached, the bed of which is a deep one and about 70 yards
broad ; at the present time of year easily fordable as there is not much water. About 500
yards from the right bank of the stream is the ruined fort of 8alwati. It is surrounded
by a deep moat of some 60' to 70' deep ; and must have been a place of some strength
in days gone by. Supplies.—None. Fuel.—Scarce. Water.—Excellent from stream.
Forage.—Grazing at this time of year (May) very poor as most of the grass is dried up.
Note.—Cure should be taken to prevent servants or followers lighting fires on the dry grass as in few minutes
the country for miles round will be in a blaze unless the greatest efforts are used to extinguish the first outburst
of a flame. Mosquitoes here were perfectly unbearable.
59 Bearing of general direction of route, south-east.
The track is broad and well defined over an
extensive undulating and fertile plain, but after
half-an-hour it falls nearly 1,000'. A little
further a stream is crossed and a few mud huts are seen on the left bank about half a mile up.
An hour later the bed of a very large stream is crossed, width 250 yards, with per
pendicular banks, gradients of which at point of crossing about 6° slope. Road still over an
extensive undulating plain thickly covered with kanar bushes. After another hour, two
more large deep beds of streams are crossed. At 10 miles, three cross-roads, the centre one
is taken, bearing of which is south-east. Track passes within two miles of the main range
of hills and becomes stony in parts in descending into a broad well-cultivated valley. Camp
5
Babadi.
11 *
1,900'.