'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III.' [‎336v] (677/982)

662
HAS—MAS
looking spot, and contains 550 houses. Water is plentiful and the grazing
is abundant. Where Masha ends, Gusheh (q.v.) begins, and a little farther
down the valley is Durra {q.v.). The cultivation extends down the valley for
I 3 miles and at its widest is 1 mile in width. The valley is highly cultivat
ed, chiefly with fruit and vegetables, and is crowded with trees. The
road down the valley is a fair track and passable for laden mules, though
steep and winding in places. It passes down through a succession of culti
vated terraces and crosses, by rough wooden bridges, rushing torrents of
water. The whole valley is delightfully cool and forms a charming summer
resort.
Two-thirds of the inhabitants of the valley are Babis. They are a mild
and peaceably disposed people. The live-stock of the valley comprises
100 cows, 2,500 sheep, 1,000 goats, 400 donkeys and a few mules.
The valley, like that of Deh Bala, is very strong position, and the three
I passes—one north, one south and one north-east—could easily be held
* against vastly larger numbers. The elevation of the upper end is 8,291
feet. —{Vaughan, 1890.)
MASHAL— Lat. Long. Elev.
A village near the river Shatait {q.v.).
MASHGAKl— Lat. Long. Elev. 2,300'.
An Iliat encampment in Luristan, 54 miles from Kaleh Bazuft, on the
track to Shushtar. No supplies; water, grazing, and fuel scarce in June.—
{McSwiney, 1891.)
MASHHAD— Lat. Long. Elev.
A large village on the Zindeh Rud, about 9 miles from Imamzadeh
Isma’il. There is a post of 50 Bakhtiari soldiers here.— {Bell, 1884.)
MASHHAD-I-MADAR I-SULAIMAN— Lat. 30° 12' N.; Long. 53° 13' E.;
Elev.
A village in Ears, about 60 miles north of Shiraz on the road to Yazd. It is
situated close to the ‘ Pasargadse ’ ruins and the tomb of Cyrus, and is
composed of a few miserable hovels, the inhabitants of which have annexed
some of the pavements of marble from the neighbouring ruins, with which
to build their houses.— {MacGregor.)
MASHHAD-I-MURGHAB— Lat. 30° 16' 35" N. ; Long. 53° 16' E.; Elev.
6,100'. {St. John).
A large village in Ears, on the Shiraz-Isfahan post road, and 94 miles north-
north-west of the former town. It forms the 4th caravan and post stage
of the road. The village itself is built on the mound in a luxuriant plain,
with a plantation of chlndr trees and watered by a fine stream. It contains
houses of a superior type and gardens, and has a good caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). and
a post house. The inhabitants number 2,000. The district is said to have
been in the hands of a family of Arabian origin for over 700 years. The Khan
lives in a picturesque kaleh overlooking the village, but commanded at close
range by hills to the north. The water here is good, but supplies are scanty
and fuel is scarce. The well cultivated valley in which the village lies is a
favourite camping-ground of the Turk and Arab Qashqai llldts, whose
black, goat’s-hair tents cover it at certain seasons of the year. The climate