'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎124r] (252/416)

203
No. 38A.
Isfahan to Shustar, via Ardal and Ililisat.
•—='
Hi STANCE, IN
'
MILES.
RbuabKs.
No. of
stage.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
ran^e and an outlying spur of that mountain. The Karun river is here left for good.
The road soon descends again and is rough for 4 miles to where it enters a water-course.
The course is little better than a cleft at an altitude of 3,000'. Some way up this gorge a
side o-ulch is followed to the left and a curious old paved way, the Kah-i-Sultani. leads to
the open plain above. Then a very difficult piece of road is encountered, as a descent has
to be made over the face of a limestone hill rounded in form and to all appearance smooth
until reached, when the terrible rifts and rubble stones that break up its surface prove to
form one of the worst bits of road yet encountered. A way would have to be built lip this
face, and for wheel traffic this would cost a large sum of money. There is no avoiding this hill
nor any of the gorges. The Malamir plain once reached, all is easy to_ the “ teppe.” Altitude
of plain 2,930'. It is overgrown with camel-thorn, but is cultivated in the centre and at its
western end, where it is irrigated. The village consists of a group of reed huts on an
eminence. 600 inhabitants. Supplies plentiful.
12
Kaia-i-Tul
15|
200
3,542'.
General direction S. by E. At M alamir one is
fairly out of the mountains, though there is still
some hilly country to encounter, yet it is all of
one description, mz., gypsum and marl, or “gatch-
match,” as the Persians say. Quitting Malamir plain at its S. E. corner, by a valley with
many tall reeds scattered about, turn sharp to the S. of the valley between rocky hills, but
for which rocky hills and the absence of a stream down it, it would be like an English
park. Tall grass, now somewhat dry, surrounds the stately oaks which are dotted here and
there. The road emerges from this valley on to a barren stony plain, in the centre of which
is seen a barrow or “ teppe” crowned by the fort of Kala-i-lul. ^ Ihis is the stronghold of a
certain Mirza Aga Khan, who looks on the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. as his suzerain, though he is more or less
independent of that Chief. This Khan’s subjects on the left bank of the Karun are called
Chaharlang, and wei’e formerly at deadly feud with the Haft-Lang, or those who dwell on
the right bank ; but the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran. has altered all this. From the N. at a distance the fort of
Kala-i-Tul is like Quetta, but from the S. side it looked like an unfinished church. It
could not be taken without artillery if held by resolute men. It would hold a garrison of
3,000, and has a well inside the ramparts. The door is well protected by flanking fire and
from direct attack—a remarkable thing in Persia. Mirza Aga Khan is repairing this fort,
which is built in two tiers, that to the N. being the lower. The road may be called good,
and supplies are tolerably plentiful; but there is no water along this stage.
General direction S. Leaving the fort, go S. W.
over the barren plain; cross a low spur, descend
into another portion of the plain still with no signs
of cultivation. On the far side one poor small
village 'of Bagh-i-Malik, where there is rice cultivation on^ the banks of a stream, and the
wild myrtle clumps look fresh and handsome. Leave the ruins of Man-Zanik on left, and
following the course of the Ab-i-Zard and crossing it, go through a pass in some low patch
(gypsum) hills, and then S. for 3 farsakhs oyev a vile road to Sar-Asia or Kud-i-Zard.
Just before reaching this Iliat village, recross the Ab-i-Zard. It is here 20' wide and 3'
deep and turns several mills. There are some patches of rice cultivation on its banks. Sup
plies scarce.
General direction N. W. There is a slight rise
through the low hills of roughish patch. To the
S. the country is a hummocky mass of gypsum
hills. Cross the upper courses of several streams
draining down from the watershed of the Kuh-i-Asmari, which from Gurgir extends to
Kud-i-Zard, though it is only near the former place that the hill gains the elevation which
13
Sabana or
Rijh-
13
213
i-Zakd or
Sae-
ASIA.
2,430’.
14
Gubciib or Gul-
20
233
GIN.
1,480'.