'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎78v] (161/982)

BAB-BAS
146
BASSAKI— Lat. 31° 13' N. Long. 51° 31' E. Elev. 7,850'.
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A place in the Qashqai country on the Isfahan-Behbehan road, 196 miles
from the former place and 171 from the latter. Pasture (5th June 1884)
fair. Water scarce in the valley at times. Ice procurable from hills above
camp Kuh-i-Dina, 4 or 5 miles from this place.— (Bell.)
BASTAK— Lat. 27° 11' 16". Long. 54° 24'E. Elev. 1,561'.
A town in Laristan, and the capital of a district of the same name, 46£
miles from Charak, on the road to Lar.
It is built of sun-dried bricks, and contains 600 houses with a popula
tion of between 4,000 and 5,000. It is situated in the centre of a small
plain, about 4 miles in length from east to west and 3 miles in breadth from
north to south. This plain is enclosed by high mountains on all sides.
The town is unfortified and unwalled. Seen from the heights above, it
presents a most picturesque appearance, being surrounded by green fields
and large plantations of palm-trees. There is a small fort on the hills
to the south of it, about 2 miles off.
The position of Bastak is naturally a strong one. The approaches
, to it are three in number, viz. :—
Approaches.
ls£.—The pass to the north (height 2,450 feet), beyond which roads
bifurcate to Lar, Furg and Bandar Abbas.
2rwZ.—The two roads from Lingeh via Champeh and Juneh which
unite at Utari caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). .
3rd. —The road from Ishkanan, 13 farsakhs distant.
The first of these is 4J miles north-east of the town. At that point the
valley, gradually ascending, grows narrower and narrower, until it ter
minates abruptly at the summit of the pass in a precipitous fall of about
100 feet. Right and left rise lofty mountains untumable for miles.
Down the face of this fall the road from Bastak descends steeply by a zig
zag track, and then, still descending, goes along a narrow valley, which is
looked into from the termination of the plain above and the heights on
either side. An enemy assailing the position would have to advance on
a narrow front for at least 1,200 yards, and finally under a fire to which,
from its elevation, he would be unable to reply effectively, ascend the
zigzag track, and carry the position.
On this account, whenever Bastak has been invaded from the north, it
has always been via Ishkanan, in which direction the ground is more open.
The detour that has to be made is great, and ample time is consequently
given to make preparations for resistance in that direction. From the
south the best route would be via Kalas and on up the Bastak river.
There is said to be a foot-path from Kalas to Bastak, and another one
thence across the Kuh-i-Gavbus to Fathura.
The inhabitants are Sunnis and are, generally speaking, a fine and hardy
T , ,. , race of mountaineers, naturally war-
Inhabitants. ... ... £ i - v
like. All possess fire-arms, which are
either old Tower muskets, or match-locks of native manufacture, these lat
ter being rather scarce. Swords are but little used, men, both on horse and
on foot, using fire-arms only. Lances are unknown.
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