'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎123r] (250/982)

DASHT ’ABBAS —Lat. Long. Elev.
An extensive plain in Khuzistan, on the Ab-i-A’la river, and to the south
east of Patak, from which it is divided by a low ridge.— (Layard.)
DASHTAK— Lat. 30° 23' N. Long. 52° 32' E. Elev.
A village in Ears, north of Shiraz and some 16 miles south-east of Maigun,
and 7 miles south-west of Rizaabad. It contains 1,000 houses, and belongs
to the Siham-us-Sultan. The village lies under the Kuh Dashtak, and is
said to be very strongly situated. A pass above the village has an elevation
of 9,500 feet above sea-level.— (Durand — Vaughan, 1890.)
DASHTAK-I-SIAH— Lat. Long. Elev.
A ruined village and a streamlet in Ears, on the Bilshire-Firuzabad road
two miles east of the Kulpa Zanum pass.— (Durand—Stotherd, 1893.)
DASHT ARZHI\ T or-I-ARJ AN— Lat. 29°40 / N. Long. 52° 3'E. Elev.
6,600' (Routes in Persia) 4,100— (Odling.)
A plain in Ears, 47 miles west of Shiraz, across which lies the main road
from Bushire. The various estimates of the size of the plain are bewildering,
especially as it is completely mountain-locked and therefore incapable of
elasticity. They vary from 16 miles by 10 as a maximum to a minimum
of 5 miles by 2. Curzon gives the probable dimensions as 7 to 8 miles
length by ^ 2 to 3 miles breadth, and this is probably nearly crrect In
summer it is said to be very verdant and to afford good pasturage, the beau ty
of the scene invoking a rhapsody from Malcolm. In winter, however, it is
very bleak, and the cold is said to be intense. In the wet weather the holkw
of the plain is filled by a lake mentioned as long ago as the tenth century by
A1 Isbakri, which at other times becomes a swampy marsh. This is the
source of one of the tributaries of the Shapur, afterwards the Rudhilleh river.
The plain is bounded on the south by limestone rocks in irregular masses,
divided by valleys, filled with dwarf oak and hawthorn; on the east and west
are limest one cliffs, about 200 feet high; and on the north sandstone and gyp
sum. The soil is a black alluvial deposit. The valley is remarkable for its
ample supply of water, and for its being a favourite haunt of the nomads
during the warm season. In spring there is a good deal of grass on this plain
and fuel is always procurable. The climate, however, is said not to be good,
fever being prevalent, and a serious cause of irritation existing in the very
numerous and venomous serpents which are found here. The neighbourhood
is said to abound in wild beasts; wild boars, hyaenas, wolves, antelope, ibex
and mountain sheep are found in the surrounding hills. The maneless lion
of Southern Persia was formerly found here, and Sir O. St. John was
attacked on horseback in 1867 by a lioness. The lion, however, seems now
to be extinct.
The village of Dasht Arzhin is clustered against the base of the northern
hills, and immediately outside of it are the compound and rest-house of the
telegraph office of the Indo-European Telegraph, which is open for adminis
trative purposes only. The village contains a tumble-down serai and 800
inhabitants. Plentiful water and fire-wood are obtainable here, but food
2 G 2