'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME IV.' [‎165r] (334/652)

about 3 miles) the road enters thehills and follows a narrow winding gorge,
between low hills and is very stony for about 6 miles, when it emerges into
a valley which gradually opens out. Kastag halting-place is in this valley. *
Water from pools was sufficient: and good at the beginning of March 1871
but the supply is precarious. Plenty of grass is obtainable and also fire
wood. No signs of cultivation or inhabitants near the halting-place, and
the hills around are barren and stony.
There is, however, a small village and a few acres of cultivation some-
where in the neighbourhood. The people come from Pishin, and the
place, therefore, belongs to that district and is in Persian ’ territory,
although on the Kalat side of the watershed, which is the general boundary!
The road follows the course of the valley which widens after 2 miles and
is covered with low jungle and wild caper. Otherwise the scenery is of
the most desolate description. The Siah Kuh (q.v.) lies some miles west
of the road and of Ghistan. Many divergent paths leading into the constant
openings in the low hills necessitate a good guide in this part of the route.
Ghistan {q.v.), which is also in Persian territory, is reached 10 miles
from Kastag.— {St. John ; Euan-Smith.)
Euan-Smith’s narrative also mentions a “ Kastuk ” ravine, in which is
situated the halting-place of Gvar Manzil {q.v.), two stages south of Kastag.
It is natural to suppose the Kastuk or Kastag Kaur would be that drain
ing the Kastag plain. But although the road, after passing Ghistan,
which appears to be at the lower end of the plain, is described as entering
a wide gorge and following the bank of a mountain torrent, it is impos
sible to say from the account whether this is the same as that at Gvar
Manzil or not. The map, if correct, is decidedly against the supposition.
All this country drains into the Dasht river.
KASUBRAN— Elev. 3,311/
A sweet well m Kirman, lying in the bed of a stream, about 35 miles
south-east of Rigan, on the Bazman road .—{Shaikh Mohi-ud-din, 1893.)
RATAL ARA— Lat. ; Long. Elev.
A village near Chari {q.v.) in the Kirman district.
KATGAN, see Bampur.
KATlCH—
A village in Persian Baluchistan, which in the time of Haji ’Abdul Nabi
(1839) belonged to the Fanuch district. It is supposed to lie in a north
westerly direction. Haji ’Abdul Nabi travelled 10 kos east from Ramlshk to
Katich ; thence he took about seven hours on an ambling donkey to reach
Mutarabad over a good road. Mutarabad is 7 kos from Fanuch by a good
road. It may, therefore, be concluded that Katich is about 50 miles from
Fanuch.
* The whole of which is probably known as Kastag.
t According to Euan-Smith s narrative. The route given by St. John on Euan-
Smitn s authontv makes it 13 miles, but from the map 10 miles would appear to be
correct.
61 I. B.
20