'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎197v] (399/416)

342
Route No. T 3.
Kuh-i-Malik Siah (Robat) to Nasikabad (Skisian).
Authority. —Lieutenant li. E. Hoomk, March 1397.
No. of
stave.
Names of stages.
Distance, in
milks.
Rl MASKS.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
3
Hpemak .
m
18|
The track leads up the Shamidar Nala bed in a
S. W. direction (slope, 1°), stony going, when
it bends W. and continues in this direction for
nearly 2 miles.
At 4 miles the nala bends N, W. and continues in a general N. W. direction n'dil
7-^ miles.
At 41 miles a track from Piran joins in on left bank.
At 5 miles the track passes throngh a small tangi, 30 yards long and 10 yards broad with
low rocks projecting from the bed. The track could be made to go round E. hill of tangi
without much difficulty. The rocks would have to be blasted out of the bed, but it is
practicable now for laden camels.
The nala up to the 6th mile is between low hills, with high mountains in the distance.
At 6th mile to the W. the right bank opens out, and there is a large stony, undulating
plain, with a thick growth of “garangai” bushes. These are excellent camel-grazing
This plain is bounded on the W. by a range of reddish coloured hills, distant 3 miles, and
running N. and S. close under which the track from Kutchi and Kejmekran runs.
At 7| miles the highest point is reached (3,800 feet), and the track now descends with
a slope of 1°, bending gradually N. and enters the Wawaila Nala which runs along the
western and northern bases of Kuh-i-Malik Siah.
At miles the track from Kejmekran joins in. The track continuing in the bed of
the vala. At ll^ miles the ziarat of Malik Siah is reached.
The banks of the nala are from 15 feet to 20 feet high, and the ground on left bank
is open and undulating. On the right bank Koh-i-Malik Siah rises abruptly.
The track still keeping to the nala bed, now bends gradually N. E. until 15 miles
and skirts the base of Kuh-i - Malik 8iab The grouud on left bank is open and undulating-
On right bank low hills with higher hills beyond.
At 15th mile the track leaves the nala bed. turning N.-W., and ascending the left
bank, 100 yards further on enters a small plain covered with “ shora plain, f mile long
^ mile wide. A small stream of brackish water runs through the centre of plain. This is
known as Maki-Chah.
After crossing this plain the track crosses over the low hills to the N. This spot i s
known by Jang Jah, and was the scene of a fight between Assad Khan (Naosherwani) and
the Muhammadsanis from the Helmand.
A good many men seem to have fallen, as the small piles of stones marking the place
where each man fell are numerous. After crossing this rising ground the track drops into
another nala bed and now leads due N. until the 17th mile, when it ascends the left bank,
and 200 yards further on drops into another nala bed in which it continues until the
Hurmak springs are reached at 18| miles.
The road is good going for all arms, except wheeled traffic.
Hurmak, height, 2,800 feet, is a small sandy plain at the junction of two nalas and is
surrounded by reddish coloured hills. It is about 1 mile long, | mile broad. It is a favourite
halting place for kafilas trading between Seistan and Kachi.
Water .—An abundance of good water issuing from springs - 2 in one place, 6 in another
The water was slightly warm.
Tanks could be made and tbe water collected. This would be necessary force, as
there is no water on the road for 32 miles.