'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎117r] (238/416)

189
No. 37.
Ispahan to Shiraz, by Post Hoad.
No. of
stage.
Names of stages.
Khan-i-Koha
Distance, in
miles.
Inter
mediate.
24
Total.
Remarks.
175
along a narrow level valley. The hills
General direction S. E. and S. S. E. Eoad good
over gravelly soil, by easy undulations. The
gardens of Surmak and Faizabad follow the road
for a mile to where it enters the hills and passes
“ 3 ■ -j- near the road are steep, rocky ridges running
parallel to the road, and separated from each other by narrow valleys smaller than that
traversed by the road. The valley gradually widens, and at 10 miles passes a small fort 1*
miles to the right of the road ; said to have plenty of water and to be inhabited by Arabs.
The hills are inhabited by Bakhtiaris, Kashkai and other Iliats. Heyond this, the valley is
5 miles broad, barren and stony, and several dry water-courses are passed with rather steep
ascents and descents. No water when I passed, but stone collected at the bottoms to improve
crossing. Good spring water at the Khan-i-Kora caravansarai, which is a lar^e hexagonal
masonry building with sides of 55 feet and small towers at the angles. There is also a mud
post-house. Country wild, undulating, aud barren. Encamp in plain close by. No supplies
No water on march
Markham makes this stage 26 and Curzon makes it 24 miles.
At 16 miles deviation
Deh Bid (Tele
18
193
graph station).
7,500'.
Direction S. W. by S. After the first mile the
road ascends steadily to the top of a range of
round, barren hills reached at 5 miles, and then
... , „ , crossing a barren moorland descends to Deh Bid.
A telegiaph office and post-house, but no village. The country is undulating with plentv of
good spring water and a good deal of land cultivated by nomad Iliats, wbd all talk Turki
and have arge flocks of sheep and goats. The whole of this road, with a little laboS’
would be fit for wheels. Encamp near post-house, on bank of a clear stream. ’
A very cold place in winter, and never hot, even in summer. Firewood is very scarce
and is brought from a distance on mules, etc. ^ scarce
10
Murghab
6,250'.
28
221
General direction S. S. E. Eoad traverses similar
low ranges of barren hills, passing at 9 miles a
spring in which the supply of water is said to be
„„„„ „ , , , , .. uncertain. At 15| miles it crosses a small bridge
f ® ok .’ and ^ at miles considerable stream (Polwar river, which flows into
t e Band Amir or Kur river at the Pul-i-khan about 25 miles from Shiraz on this route)
into which the former runs, by a broad masonry bridge of five arches. On the right bank
o this stream there is the large masonry caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). of Khana Kargam, somewhat ruined.
assing this on the left, the road ascends some round-topped bills by rather a steep gradient"
and descending slightly thence, goes up the bed of a to the top of anoth^an^
Ths ascent is at first Wand gradual, but steep towards the top. It might howevfr"
• ‘ j rti 166 .?' ^ roui this hill the road descends into a flat-bottomed drv
river bed, in which at 21 miles there is a well containing water at which caravans often halt
!s point the road climbs the bill to the right, a steep ascent, and descends the latter
d sePifl / ock y/ a/a ^tJich. although rough, might be made practicable for wheels The
descent hence to camp is almost all the way stony and rough At 26 miles a fine stream
su enly produced by a spring on the left of the road, which runs with great force and
waters the villages of Kadirabad aud Murghab. Both these are large nhh viC the
vallev h thekttar 8t ' h0USe ^ tV^ 1 ^ the ed - e of a dr ^ flat P^teau running out Into the
valley , the latter is swampy. The best ground to encamp is above the village.
11
Kovamabad
5,800'.
28
249
General direction S. by W. The road for 1
mile crossed a profusely irrigated plain, and
thence crossing a low range reached the village
"" d v.„e r