'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎154r] (312/982)

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is an outlying part. The mountain ranges have a uniform direction of
north-west to south-east. They are bare and rocky, and rise higher in
successive ranges inland from the sea, the altitude of the intermediate
valleys also increasing the farther they are from coast. The country is very
sparsely populated, about 15 miles being the average distance between
villages, while in some cases it is over 20. Numerous ruins show signs
of a former prosperity; but at the present day there is very little that is not
desert. There are no trees, and only a few scattered thorn bushes in places,
and nothing much else in the way of vegetation, except that after the rains
there is a crop of grass which is much scorched up by the middle of May,
though still affording a certain amount of grazing. The most fertile part of
this section is the plain of Firuzabad, .which is well-watered and fairly
populous, though for the last five or six years suffering from swarms of
locusts. Every village, however small, has a patch of cultivation around it,
the intervening country being desert.
It is almost superfluous to say that, except on the strip of plain near
Military capabilities. the sea coast there is no ground in this district
suitable tor the use of a cavalry force of a large
size, even if supplies were procurable ; at the same time, as long distances
have to be traversed, very effective work could be done by one or at the
outside two regiments of cavalry with machine guns, employed on
detached duties, or pushed forward in small bodies to seize and hold passes
with dismounted fire. Even one regiment would be frequently delayed by
the badness of the road in the passes, where there is scarcely room for single
file and no ground for action to either hand. Small parties could obtain
sufficient supplies, and water for horses is almost always available, in
some places brackish, but it would suffice to get horses or transport
animals along, though not good for keeping them in condition. The
country also affords a certain amount of grazing, but the grass is much
scorched up during the hot months. Limited supplies of barley and
bhusd are procurable at most villages. A few good horses suitable for
remounts can be had , but the main centres of horse-breeding are farther
north in the higher and colder regions.
Field artillery would be in constant difficulties owing to the badness of
the road. Wherever the map shows the track crossing ranges of hills, it
may be taken for granted that there is a rough, rocky defile to be traversed.
If the guns were required to act about here, positions could be obtained
covering the mouths of defiles, etc., but the higher ground is, as a rule, in
accessible owing to the rocky and precipitous nature of the hill sides. There
is no doubt that artillery would produce a great moral efiect on the natives
of these parts.
Infantry would find the marches very long, 16 miles about in this country
being considered a short'.march (this is caused by the want of water); but it
is the only arm that could act efficiently in ma ny of the places, the face of
the country being so rugged and broken as to be possible only to a man
on foot.
Food-supplies cannot be counted on for anything over a brigade at
Supplies. an T pl ac es except Fiiuzabad and Jehrcm.
Supplies for a m ixed brigade could be collected
for one or perhaps two days at most villages, always supposing the
i 112 IB, 2P