'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎127v] (259/416)

210
No. 39A.
Kala Bazuft to Khuramabad.
No. of
stage.
Distance, in
miles.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Remabks.
the Gurjtfunaki range from the Zanga range. The ends of this range forming the “tangi ” on
either side hav^e sloping spurs, over which about 300 feet above the river-bed goes the
main track on the left bank. The peaks are about 1,000 feet above the road, and fully
command the entrances and approaches.
I he country is as usual treeless and shrubless, but with excellent pasturage. Midway in
the tangi a spur projects almost across it, which would form a suitable place for a tactical
barrier. The Zaindarud on emerging from the “ tangi ” leaves the Bakhtiari country of mud
hills, separates at first Faraidan from the Chahar Mahals, and then slowly winds its way
through the lower Mahallat towards Isfahan.
The village Lidigan is in Chahar Mahal, and Chihl Chashma (forty springs) is in
Faraidan.
6
Camp.
(Camp near the)
Chashma-i-
Dima.
7,610'.
m
(approx
imate.)
64| j Leaving camp took a track leading over the
! Gurgunaki range back to the Bakhtiari country.
I It was a very good and easy track, though the
------ ^ ! col figured 9,3oU' taking two hours to reach from
. . Gurgunaki range is very broad-topped, and has many small upland valleys
in which Ilyat camps are scattered about. For, though hot, the neighbourhood affords
excellent grazing all the summer through. From the Gardan*i-Gurgunaki moved along
an excellent track due south for two hours, about 6 miles. Half way crossed the Gurba
valley and stream, 7,550'; then followed up the Zaindarud valley, and camped near the
Chasma-i-Dima, one of the main sources of the Zaindarud. Ilyats abundant, also fodder
and firewood.
From here an excellent track over low mud hills, crosses the Ab-i-Chamandar, and enters
the Shorab valley skirting its western edge, moves up a ravine parallel to the Kar Karun
range and over a col, Chelgird, 8,750' into the Karun upper valley. Just before entering the
ravine leading to the col is the Imamzada Agha-i-Sahib.
GAKDAN(or Gal-
i-Gav.)
13’
78
Ascend by the Gardan or Gal-i-Gav (the cow
pass) by an excellent mule track up the stream
coming from the Kuh-i-Eang. After miles
enter the spurs of this mountain at a prettily
watered spot with flour mills called Safir Diwa, an excellent camping-ground. Another
such long open space, affording a good camping ground, is passed at the 3rd or 4th
mile by name Chaman Sheekh Ali Khan, having a good spring known as Chashma-i-
Gulchiu. After this, rise gradually over the Kuh-i-Rang spurs as they spread to the
south. At the 7th mile enter a valley, where the main track from the Pambekal Pass,
now in full view, joins. At the 8th mile, after crossing another spur, descend into the Lah
Zard (green valley), 9,200', with nice encamping space and plenty of water. This was once
a fertile spot judging from the long aqueducts cut into the side of the large spurs.
At the 9th mile another space known as Agha Murad (9,500'). At the 10th mile the
track leads over another high spur (9,800'), and then descends into an open valley, Juh-i-
Jar, well dotted over by Ilyat encampments. The track now rises perceptibly, though
never without being easy, stoneless, and excellent in dry weather, for 3£ more miles to the
col known as Gardan (or Gal-i-Gav) at an altitude of 10,150'. Fodder scarce, but fuel
and water plentiful.
8
Chilhash
10
88
Track leads down the valley to west. It is an
excellent mule track, passing over the cross spurs
of the large spur from the head of the Kuh-i-
Eang. At 4 miles a steepish, but quite good
enough bit,pleads into the valley of the Chilhash, which torrent coming from the Kuh-i-
Eang is reached at the 6th mile (7,800'). Two miles further down the stream from this point