'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎191v] (387/416)

330
No. 9.
Kupha to Yazd, via Ustk and Nodushan.
Distance, in
*
No. of
stage.
MILKS.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Rehabks.
ed,
Skrv
5,000'.
18|
56?
At miles the road to Kala Yagmahh and
Isfahan branched off, and later on we saw the
little fort which is one of the stations on the
Isfahan road. For 8f miles we steadily descend-
our lowest point being 4,650 feet, drainage flowing east. Here the Jcavir was rather
bad, and after rain would be almost impracticable. At 10 miles another road branches off to
Akda. The grazing was very rich and we found a large flock of camels. Their owners, who
at first were afraid that we might be Bakhtiari raiders, told us that on the previous day
some 400 sheep had been carried off dose to Serv by these enterprising freebooters. Gradu
ally ascending, we crossed a road from Akda to Isfahan at 13| miles. At 18 miles the
tiamlet of Kala Shor to the north of the track, and at 18f miles the important village of
Serv. Water and supplies fair.
From Serv there are routes leading to Isfahan, Nain and Akd 6 .
Nodushan
6,300'.
22
771
186, being distance some 4 miles. At
needed piece of work. At 14J miles a
Yazd road with Chahar Haoz, a desert
6
Nasirabad
7,100'.
24
101 ^
roads run to Isfahan
S. E. up the rough
low hills until at 2 |
For many miles the track skirted the Kuh-i-
Beduk, the country to the west being open for
some 6 or 7 miles, and then broken up with low
ranges. At IO 5 - miles the village of Surk bore
llj a new haoz is being constructed—a much-
road from Akda joins in, and the main direct
stage with fair water, branches off. There is a
haoz at this spot—dry at the time of my visit. Another 8 miles across a level plain
brought us to Nodushan, a small and old town, containing some 500 houses. Its water
is brackish, but fresh water is procurable from Bagh-i-Robat, some 3 miles to the
south. The town is built on the banks of a wide nala. Branch
Abarguh, Ardakan, biain and Maibut.
Our track at first lay S
nala and, rising through
miles, we emerged upon a wide plain, which we
marched up, hugging the hills to the east.
At 3 miles we passed Bag-i-Robat close to the road, on the west side, whilst we were
told that Tulgistan lay some 6 miles to the east. Shortly after, a track came in from the east
running from Kom-i-Siah, also some distance off. Continuing on, we passed Khoshab, 4
miles to the west, Hassanabad about a mile, and Sadrabad also to the west, this last being
passed at 6 | miles. Gradually ascending at 11^ miles we reached the first spurs of the
magnificent range that has no adequate existence on the maps. At 11| miles from a hill to
the east, (altitude 9,400') we had our last view of Kuh-i-Fashark and the Isfahan ranges.
Close by was a well of sweet water to the west of the road. For 5 miles the ascent continued
through unrivalled snow scenery, which we have taken a week to map in detail, so numer
ous were the snow peaks. At 14 miles Baid Hari, at 14^ miles Kosuk and at 16| miles
Khut, all hamlets with tiny patches of cultivation. A stream of delicious water ran down
the valley, the first really good water for many march. At 17f miles we at length reached
the Godar-i-Khut 8,500'. From it we had a wonderful view down the valley that leads to
Taft. At 20f miles we began to pass hamlets, with excellent water and from this point,
down to Nasirabad, cultivation was practically continuous. At 24 miles the small town of
Nasirabad, equal in size to Nodushan. The Governor of Yazd generally passes the summer
in the gardens above, and indeed they form the best hill station I have yet seen in Persia.
This march was rather stony, but the gradients were very easy.
Garden
Taft.
5150'.
above
15f
117x
Our route lay down the fertile valley, which at
first was some three miles wide, but gradually
closed in. The following is the list of hamlets:
Zainalabad, Chinarak, Aliabad, Khudabad, Ibra-
himabad, Hujetabad, Khushk, Tulum, Haji Ali and Akhun. These hamlets are to the
west of the track up to 3 miles, at which point is Kariabad on the track. Descending we