'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎183v] (371/416)

* For road from Tal Espid to Kazran, vide, bottom of page 31b-
316
No. 61.
Stittstar to Shiraz, rid Ahwaz ami l)phh<x,)a'».
No. of
stage.
Distancb, in
MILKS.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Remarks.
Icanars give shade, whilst the Shams-ul-Arab stream, which bounds it on the south-east,
supplies good water. The above-named stream is small, except in time of flood. After
crossing it we enter rounded gypsum hills, and are amongst them for 4 miles of road ; after
which, crossing the water-parting between Shams-ul-Arab and the Do-Gumbazan stream
(altitude 2,480'), the road become? level with hills on either side. That of Shah-Kuh on
the right front is remarkable in shape. The mountain on the left, marked on the map as
Kuh-i-Kuma, but known as Kuh-i-Dil, must be at least 10,000' in height. They say the
stream from this plain is lost in a marsh. The water from the snows of Kuh-i-Dil mostly
goes down the Shams-ul-Arab. At Do-Gumbazan is a ruined caravansarai and a small
village, the first we have seen since Behbahan.
11
Basht
2,730'.
cultivation. Great slabs
south of the Kuh-i-Dil.
25
239?
12
Tal-Espid*
18
257|
2,830'.
Direction N. E. From Do-Gumbazan to Basht
8 farsahlis, there is a gentle descent over a
plain showing marks of once having been well
peopled, though now few tents are seen. A little
of almost perpendicular limestone rise from it, and form the
The road runs to the N. E., and turns the east end of the
mountain without much difficulty by threading between the knife edges of the re
markable limestone formation, and ascends a slight kotal called the Tang-i-Narik
(altitude 3,230'). To the east of the mountain the country is quite parklike with the oaks,
which have again appeared. On nearing Basht the road was so bad, following a zigzag
for 1| miles, that we had often to dismount; but a better track exists. The small stone fort
of Basht would hold 70 men. There is a permanent garrison. At Basht^ is a fine open
valley running W. by N. to E. by S. with small stream capable of becoming an awkward
flood. This in its normal condition trickles over a stony bed down the centre of the valley.
The people (there are only about 100) are at feud with all their neighbours, and never dare
wander out of sight of home. Large clumps of wild myrtle dot the plain. A road goes
from here to Mian kotal, and is reported to be good. The snowy peaks above Dasht-i-Arjin
were visible from Do-Gumbazan.
Direction E. by S. From Basht the road
leads down and across the valley, past mounds
evidently sites of ancient fortified places, and
enters the low hills on the N. W.; it ascends
only to descend again, so as to hit off a water-course, which must be occupied by a
considerable torrent at times. Thence through a parklike valley with fine oaks. ^ At the
head of this is the first serious obstacle to vehicles since Behbahan, viz., the Guzinjan
ridge, which is of limestone rocks. The ascent, coming from the west, is nothing, hut the
descent of half a mile into the Chal-i-Mora plain is steep, rough, and difficult. The view
from the Guzinjan ridge (altitude 2,780') is fine. The Chal-i-Mora valle}', almost
perfectly flat, has its alluvial soil standing level up against the stony hills. A narrow
gorge admits the river, which meanders from the N. E., escaping by an equally narrow
gor"e to the W. The plain extends to the E., like an arm of the sea, the sluggish
stream of the Sar-ab-i-Siah (locally called Tang-i-Sher) draining this arm, and falling into the
main stream 2 miles from the ridge. The fords of the main river and that of the Sar-ab-i-
Siah are easy. McGowan (in April 1895) describes the Ab-i-Siah as follows Its bed is very
wide and is banked by thick jungle. In winter it must be quite impassable, now it
is fordable and that is all. The fori is just above where a remarkable mound, evidently
artificial, is now crowned by a ruined mosque. The mound is circular in shape, has 40' of
steep scarp, and 70'diameter. The Sar-ab-i Siah evidently was formerly led round the E.
side of the mound as well as the W., and a wet ditch was thus secured ; but now there is
only water on the W. Tal-Espid plain is similar to that of Chal-i-Mora in character, only
more circular than oblong, which is the shape of the former. One’s attention is attracted
by the square mud towers of the Lur inhabitants, all placed on artificial mounds command
ing the tents or huts at their feet. These Lur people stay here all the year round, but
prefer not to build houses for fear of the tax-gatherer getting a firmer hold of them by
means of their fixed residences.