'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎45r] (94/982)

BAF—BAF
81
BAFQ— Lat. 31° 35' N. Long. 55° 24' E. Elev. 3,200'.
A town in Yazd, 70 miles east of that town, and 40 from Kirman; it has
some 3,000 inhabitants and stands in the midst of a wild desolation. An
cient qandts supply it with brackish water, and it abounds in mulberry,
pomegranate, and palm trees, which fill the gardens that extend 2 miles’
to the north of the town, and almost connect it with two little outlying
hamlets. From a distance it looks stately and prosperous, but is really
poverty-stricken and stagnant. No trade has taken root here, as the
town lies off the main road. Twenty-six miles from Bafq is what is called
its gate. It is the termination of the pass in the descent of the road from
Shaitur. The gates consist of sheer walls of rock, 400 feet high and 200
yards apart, the passage being a quarter of a mile long.
The sub-district of Bafq extends from east to west about 60 miles, that
is, from the village Shaitur to Chah-i-Kavir, and north and south from Ariz
to Nahu, about t>3 miles. The climate is mild in winter and intensely
warm but salubrious in summer.
Prices of Provisions in May 1894.
8.
d.
Bread ..
.. .. .. .. 7 lbs.
per
0
5
Wheat
7 „
0
5
Almonds
7 „
99
0
10
Straw ..
.. 50 „
99
0
5
Ghi ..
7 r>
99
3
4
Meat .. |
7 „
99
1
0
Fowls ..
.. .. .. .. One
0
3
< Stack-
-K. Abbot-
— Sykes.)
BAFT.— Lat. 29° 15'; Long., 56° 38'; Elev. 7,290'.
A small town in Kirman, capital of the district of Aqta’ which is
situated between Babur on the east, and SIrjan on the west, 67 miles north
of Daulatabad.
It consists of some 200 houses with large gardens and orchards
in a long line under the hills, and is rich in flocks, cattle, mules, and asses.
Formerly there were over 400 houses, but many of them have fallen in and
others are dilapidated and deserted, and some of the fine orchards pre
sent a neglected appearance. The population is estimated at 2,000, but
many have left and lead a nomad life, owing to oppression and excessive
taxation.
The houses here lose the typical Persian domed style ; they are all flat-
roofed with thick rafters covered over with mud. The revenue of Baft
was, in 1894, 790 tumdns, but the Governor takes 1,000. There are 2 car
penters, 2 mechanics, 5 dyers and 4 felt-makers.
The revenue of the district of Aqta’, with which Afshar is incorporated,
■ was 28,000 tumdns in 1903.
Five hundred to 700 mans of opium are grown here yearly, and the price
varies from Rs. 4 to Rs. 10 a man.
A fair amount of supplies could be gathered here from the neighbour-
<. Ing districts of Saldabad, Rabur and Jlruft.
112 I. B.