'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎109v] (223/706)

x
206 GUR—GUS
to Shahrud by FIruzkuh. No village or supplies here. Water plentiful.
Grass abundant.— (Napier.)
GURJl—
A sub-district of Farldan in the Isfahan province. It has 19 villages and
pays yearly taxes amounting to 18,334 &mws=Rs. 7,334. Its principal
place is Akhura-i-bala (q.v.). It has its name from its inhabitants, who
are the descendants of some Georgians (in Persian, Gurji) brought here by
Shah Abbas the Great at the beginning of the 17th century.— (Schindler.)
GURTUN— Elev. 5,150/
Sixty-one miles from Isfahan on the road to Yazd and 6 miles west of
Varzaneh situated on the left bank of the Z ndeh Rud, a walled place about
200 yards square with corner bastions and fortified gateways on the side
furthest from the river. .Numerous pigeon towers and other buildings are
on the right bank, notably some very fine fhamb~rs or cisterns. The village,
which contains 50 houses, 200 people, belongs to the Crown. It has 12
pairs of oxen for ploughing; 90 kharwJrs (58,500tbs.) of grain ar<5 sown
yearly. Taxes 100 tumdns. The river, although so close, is of no agricul
tural value, as it is at least 30 feet below the level of the plain. A wheel
might be used with much profit. There is a lead from the river, but the
water on its way is robbed to such an extent that Gurtun, from once be
ing a very flourishing place, has declined to the above. Vaughan who was
here in 1890 describes the river as follows. The Zindeh Rud river at this point
is about 60 yards broad, and flows 100 yards in 70 seconds. There is a ferry
boat, consisting of a small platform supported on mussaks, which plies above
the town. Directly below it, and opposite to some ruins, is a ford sloping
downwards with the stream towards the further bank. There is at present
4 feet 3 inches of water at the ford, which is 80 yards in length. Approaches
easy; bed, gravel. Drinking water is procured from the cisterns on the
right bank. A few supplies, firewood scarce.— (Vaughan, Preece, 1892.)
GURU GUL—
Name of a pass in north-western Azarbaijan, connecting the valleys of
Qaldaran and Zohrabad. Ascent and descent both easy .—(Picot 1891 )
GURURAN—
The names of two villages close to each other and situated at the north
foot of the Kuh Baluch in the Bilawar valley in Kirmanshah about 25
miles north of that city. They contain from 30 to 40 houses inhabited by
Bilawari Kurds, some trees, and considerable amount of crops and culti
vation. Water plentiful from a stream; a great number of willow trees
grow on the river banks just below the villages. Supplies • 50 cows 400
sheep and goats—(Vaughan.)
GUSHEH (1)—
A village in the Shlrkuh district, about 25 miles south of that town
an ^ north of the Shirkuh range. The village straggles between a river and
chits, whose steep black sides afford a striking contrast to the high trees
below.— (Stock.)