'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎238r] (480/982)

KAL—KAL
465
KALEH SAFlD— Lat. 30° 13' (approx.) N. Long. 51° 28' (approx.) E.
Elev.
A rocky hill and fortress in the Shhlistan district of Fars, some 70 miles
north-west of Shiraz ; on the left bank of the Fehllan river. The hill gets its
name from the white colour of its rocks, and from the fact of its being used
as a stronghold in times of disturbances. It is an isolated precipitous
hill, 4 to b miles in length, 2 miles in breadth, and has a broad base, perhaps
5-| miles in diameter. Near its summit it presents an abrupt rampart, and
its crest is said to be accessible by three paths, only known to the Mamas-
sanl, though other writers say that there is only one way to the top and
that not an easy one. The sides are scarps of perpendicular rock. There
is a road cut along the face of the rock, defended by two towers and a gate.
At the summit of the rock, which is about 1,000 feet above the plain, is a
fine, level plateau about three-fourths of a mile square, the soil fine and with
numerous springs of water. It was taken both by Alexandar and Timhr.
The only f ortincations are a line of huge stones ranged in regular order round
the edges of the precipices. Each of these is wedged beneath by another of
smaller dimensions ; when the s.maller one is removed, the large one is hurled
in an instant from the top to the bottom, sweeping before it with irresistible
force everything that tends to interrupt its course. The hill is a position
of some importance as it commands the high road to Shiraz from ’Arabistan
and Behbehan. The rock runs from north-west to south-east and is
composed of limestone, on all sides very precipitous, but least so towards
the west. There is abundance of oak and other trees on its summit, and
plenty of water but no habitations. To the north runs the Talagun branch
of the Tab river, nearly in a north-west direction. There are four principal
entrances to the fort, which face to the north-east, south-east, west and
south-west ; these are approached by very difficult and stony paths liable
to have masses of rock thrown on them from above. Even in the present
state of the neighbouring roads, guns might probably be brought with
great labour near enough to the west entrance to cover an attacking party
from a lower height close to it called the Shutur Khwab ; at all events a
road could be constructed for that purpose, but the capture of the fort in
this manner, which must be attended with considerable loss, seems a matter
of doubtful importance provided it could be strictly blockaded ; as its
surrender, if shut out from the surrounding country, must soon follow from
want of supplies.
The Fehlian river, on the bank of which it stands, is here 18 yards wide
and 3 feet deep, running with a rapid current. Just by the hills it is joined
by the Shul stream from the north, the main stream from the east being
here called the Tang-i-Khast, from a narrow gorge through which it flows.—
(Monteith — DeBode—Kinneir —Jones — Wells — Baring — MacGowan, 1895
Hopkins, 1903.)
KALEH SAGA— Lat. 27° 43' N. Long. 52° 45' E. Elev.
A village in the south of Fars, about 23 miles from Jam on the road to
Lar. It contains 70 or 80 inhabited houses, built of mud and stone surround
ing a fort of like construction. Date trees are scattered round about the
village and among the ruins of the old houses. At the south-east end of the
112 I. B. 3-NT