'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎297r] (598/982)

KUT-KUT
583
j
mules pass one another No one, however, has attempted to pave this pass,
and though steep and difficult to a degree, it is possible to get a foothold.
In places the road h°,S been revet" ed. The pass stands 1.400 feet above the
iffian below. The ascent from the south of 4 miles takes nearly 5 hours
by a narrow, precipitous road, supported by a wall on the lower side, and
altogether so difficult that, if adequately defended, it could scarcely be forced
by an army till turned by another road ; but guns have been carried across
it. There are excellent positions for signalling all up the pass, vide Kamarij.
k It was on the worst part of this ascent, known as the Kamar, or ledge of
Asad Khan, that the Afghan chief of that name found himself in 1752 en
trapped between the followers of Rustam Sultan, chief of Khisht, hidden in
the crags above, and the soldiery of Karim Khan Zand in the valley below,
and realized to his cost the small chance of escape from such a man-trap.
The descent is one mile long and drops from 3,100 feet to 1,400 feet.—-
{Ouseley -Monteith — Chesney — MacGregor — Curzon—Routes in Persia,
Section I, Ed. 1898.)
KUTAL-I-MALU— La.t. Long. Elev. 1,800'.
A pass in Ears, 66 miles on the road from Bushire to Kazarun. From
the right bank of the river Dalaki, about 7 miles from the village of that
name, the ascent commences, and at first is easy for 2 miles : thence for 2
miles it is difficult and steep, the road zigzagging shortly up over slippery
masses of rock and stone, the last part being exceedingly rugged and difficult.
The height is estimated at 1,500 feet of steep climbing. A causeway built in
zigzags up the kutal is not used, as its surface is slippery. Mules avoid this
attractive but deadly dangerous sangband, and have worn in the rock
a number of branching paths up and down the mountain side. These now
unite, now divide, but allow of more than one animal going up and down at
the ame time. Though bad, this pass cannot compare for vileness with the
Kutal-i-Pir Zan, Kutal-i-Dukhtar or Kutal-i-Kamanj. It is quite impass
able for guns, or any horses except those used to climbing. In forcing this
pass, it would be necessary to occupy the rocky heights on both sides.
For about l mile the road is tolerably good, and Monteith thinks that by
throwing a bridge of date trees across, and passing over from the right to
the left side of the defile, a much easier path might be opened. Stack des
cribes this pass as a rocky staircase, 1,000 feet high, with its landing in the
plain of Khisht, 1,800 feet above the sea. Part of the road is paved with
stones, but the rest is the work of nature except the last half mile or so.
On the other hand, MacGregor says that, of this pass, the road could all be
made practicable for field artillery. The elevated ridge of rock to the left
affords a very strong position, and it would be absolutely necessary to take
s it before attempting the pass in the face of an enemy.
Curzon reiterates the impossibility of field guns ascending the kutal, but
points out that an easy though longer road can be found by following the
banks of the river Shapur and skirting the hills on the west. The name of
Kutal-i-Malu, which means the U cursed pass” and was probably given to
it by reason of the epithets of the ascending travellers, is not always used ;
several other names being bestowed according to the fancy of the people.
{Clerk Monteith — MacGregor — Curzon—Routes in Persia, Section I, Ed.
1898.)
Y