'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎245r] (494/982)

ing it up. It then flows through gardens above the town where numerous
other springs increase it, volume, and down through the town on to the
plain whose south-east border it skirts, until, in the latter part of its course
it forces its way through the Zagros by a tremendous gorge in o the plain
of Zangavar. Thence it takes the name of Ab-i-Shirvan as it passes in a
south-soulh-east direction through the valley of Rudbar, being increased
by the Zangavar, Ab-i-Shirvan, and two other streams, all of which come
from the west.
It flows south-east and joins the Kara Su and Karkheh in Zangavar ; the
united stream is called the Kavkheh.—^RawUnson—St. John—Vaughan.)
"I 5,500b (Gerard.)
KARIND (2)—Lat. 34 16' 59"; Long; 46° 14' Elev. > 5,350' {Rozario.)
) 5,250'
A town in Kirmanshah, 56 miles west of the town of that name and some
170 miles .from Baghdad, on the road between the two places. It is
described by Fraser as grotesquely, rather than picturesquely, placed at the
mouth of a gorge between two precipitous hills. The houses, though small,
are neat and built in terraces on the slope of the gorge, with the naked'
and scarped rock rising abruptly above them. Rich gardens extend up
the defile and along the base of the mountain, which produce a variety
of fruits (including the celebrated stoneless grape known as that of Karind)
which ripen during the end of July and August. The willow and. the lofty
poplar attain^a considerable size on the margin of a mountain stream that
bisects the village, and is afterwards turned off into smaller channels for
the supply of the gardens in the plain. Several copious springs issuing
from the plain, which is here about 3 miles broad, add their water to numer
ous mountain streams and form the sources of the Ab-i-Karind, the north
west tributary of the Karkheh river. The temperature is very mild; when
Jones visited it !n August the maximum point of the thermometer wns
only 85°. A mild east wind prevails throughout the nights, and is followed
by a refreshing west wind that lasts during the day.
Karind has long been celebrated in Persia for the excellence of its steel
work ; the inhabitants however mainly live by agriculture ; a few carpets
are made. The gunsmiths at Karind are reputed to be the best workmen in
Western Persia. They turn out exceedingly good Martini rifles at about
tumdns 20 (Rs. 45) a-piece and will copy anything. There are four gun
smiths in the town, and the average ou put of rifles amounts to about 100
per annum. Cartridge cases, however, cannot be made,; they are obtained
from Europe or old ones are recapped and filled, home-made powder benm
used, which is described as being better than the usual Persian powder.
The population may be 3,000 mainly belonging to the ’All Illahi sect;
32 families of Jews.
There are several mills in the town, each being able to grind 6,500 lbs.
of wheat in 24 hours, and a Persian Government Telegraph Office. The
fine caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). built by Shah ’Abbas is now in ruin. Supplies : cattle
and plough oxen, 3,000 sheep, 500 goats, firewood. A road from here to
Gavarreh, distant 14 miles, said to be practicable for mules.— (Jones —
Curzon—Preece— V aughan—Gough, 1906 .)