'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎149v] (303/416)

254
No. 46A.
Niriz to Savand, via Arsivjan.
No. of
stnge.
Distanck, in
MILKS.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Remarks.
point as follows -, camp on plain of Dasht-i-Khak 19 miles, Kushkak 27 miles, Tasht 18
miles. Total, 64 miles). Inhabitants (Lashanis) live in tents lower down by the edge of
lake. \ ery good stream here, and a garden with domed tomb. Leaving here 'track
becomes very rough, narrow and stony. Impassable for guns. It crosses three very
steep ridges. Rate of march slow. High range of hills on north and a long high ridge
on the south make it a defile throughout. Between second and third ridges a small
spring of good water reached on left side of road. Top of last ridge is readied at 12|
miles. From here road descends towards edge of lake again. Fairly easy gradient and very
few stones. At 16| miles crosses stream of fresh water flowing into lake, and then leads
over level ground on the lake shore. Still keeping west, re-enters the hills at 18| miles.
Ascends by an easy slope, and crosses some high ground. Track here narrow, only room for
one loaded mule at a time. Begins to descend gradually at 20f miles. !No obstacles
here. Marching fairly easy right on down to valley. Huseinabad is one of a cluster of
small walled villages, which are dotted all along this valley, each having an average
population of about 100 inhabitants. In a good year supplies of all sorts obtainable,
but for some years past swarms of locusts have done great damage to the crops. There
is a good water-supply and plenty of good camping ground. Abundance of firewood on
the neighbouring hills.
A ESIN JAN.
5a
867
Leaving here road to Arsinjan takes a northerly
direction, and is easy marching. Bends to north
west at 1| miles round a range of hills. Passes
through a cultivated tract of country. Arsinjan
is a large town with 4,000 inhabitants with a good large bazar. Houses are of mud. There
are three public baths.
Bukun
14
100^
Leaving Arsinjan, road continues north-west,
threading a series of extensive gardens. Leave
gardens behind, and proceed on up a broad open
valley rising with a very trentle slope. A stream
of good water flows on^ the right side of road. Patches of cultivation at first, and then the
whole valley is dotted with stunted trees and thorn bushes. Water mill passed at 2 miles.
Road good and easy. Another water mill at miles. Road here branches, rejoining
further on near top of ridge. Continuous slight upward gradient. Track reaches its
highest point at 8 miles, and begins to descend towards a broad valley dotted with numerous
villages. Road to Cyrus tomb vid Kamin here branches off. Continuing on and taking a
more westerly direction, Bukun road crosses the valley. Good, but stony. Road to Saidaa
branches off to south-west at 13^ miles. Villages of Kamin and Aliabad visible in the far
distance to north. Village of Bukun fair-sized, affording supplies of all sorts, though for
some years past swarms of locusts have caused a great deal of loss to the inhabitants. The
whole of this valley is well inhabited and supplied.
OAVAND
10 f-
111:
Leaving Bukun, an easy road proceeds along the
level valley in west direction. Small mud fort of
Daulatabad passed at 2 miles. Continuing on,
another small fort passed at 5J miles and villages
of Kasarabad and Akbarabad visible in the far distance to north. Small stream of fresh
water crossed at 7§ miles. Road here commences to rise, and is a little rough and broken
in places. A caravavsarai seen on the far side of a large stream which flows just north of
track. This raravunsarai is on the main caravan route, and the poles of the telegraph line
can n >w be distinguished. Close by the south side of road is a high range of hills. Road
is quite easy here, and continues the same till it joins the telegraph line and main route at
a six-arch masonry bridge about two miles from Savand telegraph office.