'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎97r] (198/706)

GAVA—GAVK
181
GAVlNJIK—
A halting place in Azarbaijan, four stages north-east of Tabriz on the
road to Aslanduz.
GAVARRA— Elev. 4,970'. Properly GAHVAREH
Stands on a point running down to the left bank of the Zimkan river
a few mdes from its source. Is distant by road from Kirmanshah about
40 mnes to the west. Above the town the river flows north-east and
bending sharply round, it runs north-north-west below ; its valley is
narrow, and lined with cultivation and vineyards : below the town are
some groves of fine poplars.
The slopes round are gentle, well cultivated, and clear of trees The
adjacent mountains hold the remains of oak forest. Water is abundant
from the Zimkan river and many springs. Besides the usual crops large
quantities of tobacco are grown : the gardens and vineyards have (1897) been
largely destroyed by locusts and cultivated fields have taken their place.
The town contains 400 houses, a small bazaar and some shops : there are
a number of Jews engaged in trade. Here also is the residence of the
Amir-i-Tuman Husain Khan, commander of the Guran Kurd regiment.
It is also the head-quarters of Husain ’All Sultan.
Roads from the main Baghdad road to Kirmanshah and from Zuhab
Harunabad, Kaleh Zangir, etc., pass through the town : there is also a road
down the valley of the Zimkan river to the Shlrwan junction.—(Burtcm )
GAVBAZ— '
A tribe living in Tehran province.
GAVKHANEH or GAUKHANEH —Elev. 5,000'.
The name means a depression and not cow or anything to do with the
abode of cows, as is so often said. It is a great fen or marsh, 45 miles
east of Isfahan near the road to Nain, and is the delta of the Zandeh-Rud
the river on which Isfahan is situated. In summer there is very little
water, about 15 square miles being covered, depth only a few inches • in
spring, however, it forms a vast lake, 35 miles long by 8 to 10 feet wide
the water in parts being 15 to 18 feet deep.
On reaching the commencement of the Gavkhaneh the riv.-r breaks un
into numerous branches, which flow for three or four miles through dense
jungie and finally enter the salt lake beyond. This jungle consists of
hign tamarisk and other bushes so close that in places one can only force
a way through with difficulty. The ground is also very swampy and cut
up by deep artificial channels, which have been made to distribute the
water as evenly as possible over it. There is also rich undergrowth of
grass and small shrubs. The place is said to be full of wild pig and it is
breeding ground for wild duck, which rear their young in its most inacces
sible parts. This thicket forms a good grazing ground for cows even in the
ariest weather. There are numbers of seagulls and other birds about which
live near the lake.
The point, where the stream breaks up into numerous channels, is a
regular halting place, as it is the furthest point eastward at which fresh
water is to be found for many miles, <