'ROUTES IN PERSIA, Section 1.' [‎199r] (402/416)

S45
No. 33.
Kuh-i-Malik Siah (Robat) to Nasirabad (Seistan),
No. of
stage.
Distakcb, in
MILES.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate
Total.
Remabks.
At 6^ miles it crosses what is stated to be an old canal.
At 7 miles passes to the E. of a mound, with graves on it, called Khak Muhammad.
At 9.5 miles the track bends N. N. E.
At 12 miles it rises over a low bank, 5 feet high, running for miles E. and W. on to
ft plftt©ftu»
From 7 to 12 miles the track leads over hard “ pat,” with scattered tamarisk and “ lana ”
bushes.
The country to the S. of this bank is called Chapchot, to the N. of it Mishki.
The country up to 12 miles shows the signs of inundations, aud the natives say, when
the Helmand is in flood, this country is impassable.
At 14| miles the ruined walled village of Kundar is reached.
From 12 to 14^ miles the country is a hard bare “ pat ” plain, with scattered “ lana ”
bushes.
The track leading N. N. E. goes over a hard bare “ pat plain, with scarcely any vege
tation until it reaches Hauzdar ruins at 19£ miles.
At 15£ miles passes three low mounds, £ mile to the E. ^
At 16| and 18 miles the track passes two mounds, mile to the W., these are called
Akhor-Raksh-i-Kustam (the stables of Rustam), and it is said he used to keep his horses
From Hauzdar the track crosses a bare “pat" plain until the Assak-Chah (wells) are
reached at 22| miles.
ASSAK-CHAH.
There are 30 old wells or pits here, 6 with water in them. The water is 15 feet from
the surface, and there is 2 feet of water in each well. The water is brackish and putrid from
standing. These wells require a good deal of clearing out before the water is fit to drink.
These wells have been dug by herdsmen as a convenience for their flocks. It seems to
be the practice, when a well goes salt to dig another. Water is said to be found anywhere
on this plain, about 15 feet down. No reason could be given for selecting this spot,
especially, except that it was one march.
Camping-ground —Unlimited.
FWrfe/v—Grass. There are large tracts covered with “ dkub ” grass roots, which would
spring up after rain.
Camel-grazing .—“ Lana ”, abundant.
Fuel.—Nil. Must be carried.
5 Hosainabad
19
92|
The tract goes N. E. for 5 miles over an
open level plain, when it reaches some 15 wells
similar to those at Assak-Chah. The greater
, part of this track leads over dry “ dhub ” grass.
To the E. the district is named Khanduk. . , u l r t i.
At 4^ miles and £ mile to the E. the ground is raised, forming a plateau, about 6 ieet
higher than the rest of the plain. ..
From wells to 7 miles the tract leads N. E., and between 6 and 7 miles passes over sou,
with a crust of “ shora,” rather heavy going about here.
A quantity of “ lana ” grows, and the people from Sehkuha were collecting it and car
rying it home for fuel and fodder. , . -i
From 7th mile the track turns nearly due north over the plain until 8 j miles, when a
plateau is reached, some 20 feet higher than rest of plain. The southern face is a s t ee P slo P e >
cut by the action of rain-water into little rounded promontories. The chfl would be easy
to ascend in most places by a footman, but would be impassable for horses in most. Ihe