'A Journey from India to England, through Persia, Georgia, Russia, Poland, and Prussia, in the year 1817.' [‎147] (210/452)

POOLLEH DULLAUH. 147
being only one rupee per shaka or double maund, about two-pence
per pound weight.
May 29th. — Setting out for Poolleh Dullauh, distant twelve miles,
we quitted Room by a gate to the north-westward, and crossed
a bridge of masonry, of nine arches, over the river bed before
mentioned, about one hundred yards from bank to bank. The
stream is said to rise at or near the Zurdeh Koo, or Yellow Moun
tain, to the north-west, and ere its arrival at the town walls its
waters are drawn off to various parts for irrigation. Turning to
the north-east, we crossed, within a mile, many small streams or
channels; after which, the road quits the cultivated tract, and
leads over a flat, barren, and gravelly soil, bearing no grass nor
any vegetation, except the usual weeds. The same good road con
tinues along this sterile plain to a bridge of eleven arches, over
a salt river, which is a few yards to the southward of the cara-
vansera gate of Poolleh Dullauh. The stream comes from the
westward, and appears to draw its waters from the barren hills that
lie to the north. The bridge is at present in good repair, and
the river, which is thirty yards wide, has two feet water.
The caravansera of Poolleh Dullauh is in. a bad condition, with
but little accommodation ; the three rooms over the gateway are
the only ones habitable, and are so merely in hot weather, as
their open arches must render them too cold for travellers in
winter. Sweetish water is to be had within a mile of this place;
but here is neither wood, nor indeed any kind of provender for
cattle, except the leaves of reeds. It is even advisable, on this
march, to bring water from Room, rather than depend on obtaining
any supply upon the road. As it almost always happens that cara-
vanseras have arched door-ways and window apertures, without either
doors or windows, Europeans would have the means of securing a
great degree of comfort, if they carried with them two or three
cloth screens, like tent doors, to fasten into the walls with iron
pegs, at these places. They would thus prevent inquisitive persons
from watching their motions all day, and would be protected from
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