'Report on the British Indian Commercial Mission to South-Eastern Persia during 1904-1905. By A H Gleadowe-Newcomen.' [‎80r] (164/176)

APPENDICES (F). 147
collecting in the mountain-ringed plains above. This water finds its way into the Tang-i-
Zindan by the Ahmedi river. Emerging from the Lard-i-Ahmedi into a saucer-like plain,
it is seen that the main drainage from the watershed runs out almost due east in the direction
of the Kuh-i-Ahmedi, which towers into the sky on the right, above the village. In front
to the north, is a line of low black hills of volcanic formation. To the w'est and north
west rise up the more distant ridges of the Kuh-i-Fargoon. Before the small village and
fort of Nissa (3,300 feet), set in date groves, are reached, the road winds amongst sand hills,
and then runs down a ravine in which are the head wells of a Kanat from which Nissa draws
its water. At Nissa supplies and fuel scarce. Good grazing for camels and mules, water
plentiful, but impregnated with iron.
Three miles from Nissa a low watershed is crossed, and thereafter the road, a fairly easy Nissa to Deh Sheikh
one, winds amongst low hills, and crosses the heads of five ravine systems (time carrying the 25 —1^5 miles,
water east and north-east and two leading it west and [north-west) till it debouches on a
wide plain, ringed with low hills on all sides, and from which the main drainage flows north,
north-west and south-west. At the farther extremity of this plain is the Tang-i-Deh
Sheikh, a little more than half way between Nissa and Deh Sheikh. The Tang is a narrow
corkscrew pass, some 4 miles long, lying amongst crumbling hills of many coloured argilla
ceous slate and marble. The difficult and dangerous pass, a favourite haunt of bandits, can,
however, be avoided by going round by the open river valley. A swamp makes this road
impassable in wet weather, but an embankment could be built, and a good road made at small
cost. Leaving the hills the road runs again, more northerly this time, over a stony plain, till
Deh Sheikh, a fort and village under craggy hills, is reached. Here there are some scanty date
groves. Supplies and fuel are scarce, but there is good grazing for camels and mules. Fairly
palatable water is to be had from a spring, near a Ziarat and grave yard, one and-a-half miles
from the village.
The road climbs, amongst low hills of gravel, easily into the plain of Urzu (3,700 feet) Deli Sheikh to
and villages and plantations of dates become more frequent. The plain is scored with lines of Dasht i-Bar
kanats, and a plentiful supply of slightly brackish water is to be had everywhere. At 11| 21 -—186 miles,
miles north-north-west from DehSheikh, the small town of Sultanabad, surrounded by
cultivation and gardens, is reached. Nine-and-a-half miles west from Sultanabad, across the
plain, is Dasht-i-Bar, which was at one time a very important fort and town, now a little
village, surrounded by spreading fields. Supplies plentiful, and water and grazing good, but
fuel scarce.
Leaving Dasht-i-Bar we enter the wilderness, where there are no more villages—though in Dasht-i-Bar to
winter nomad encampments are frequently met with—and where marches have to be filled in Shakrab (or lab-
with the water supply. Road to camp over level plain, following the course of a red fringed •,
rivulet. At Shakrab, water good and plentiful, grazing fair, but no supplies or fuel.
A fair road but stony, running generally north-north-west over shoulder of long slope, shakrab to Mubarik
Ground sloping away to south and south-west, ranges of grey hills to north-east. Broken Hussein
ground is crossed before the camping place in the river bed is reached. Here there is a well, 22—218 miles,
and watering through. Water however is very scanty and bad. A well three miles north-west
has fair water in it, no supplies. Grazing for camels and mules.
The road is a fair one, first running west across stony and undulating plain, then turning Mutarik Hussein to
west-north-west across skirts of hills, till it turns more northerly through the pass of Naokand
Chashm-i-Sufed. The pass is an easy one, crest of watershed 5,800 feet; lying between two 24—242 miles,
districts it is, as usual, a favourite haunt of Banditti. From the Chashm-i-Sufed the road
drops in easy gradients over stone strewn slopes, into tbe great central valley of the Kavir,
which running north-west and south-east at an average elevation of 5,300 feet to Ispahan.
The Kavir, or saline swamp, that lies in the centre of this bed of a prehistoric sea is about 300
miles long, with an average breadth of 30 miles. The valley itself is a desert modified by
frequent oases, some of: which are very fertile. At Naokand, on the edge of the Kavir, no ^
supplies of any sort. Fuel scarce. Water salt. Good camel grazing. ^
The road lies along the right side of the Kavir, passing over flat, moor-like ground. Naokand to
After eight miles patches of cultivation become frequent. At 18 miles large serai and village of Allahabad
Aliabad. At 22 miles Mobarikabad lies a mile to left of road, at 24 miles walled village of 24 -266 miles.
Allahabad. Here supplies, grazing and fuel plentiful, water slightly brackish. A good
Caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). .
Good road and level. There are several villages on the road between Allahabad and Allahabad to
Saiadabad, and cultivation is nearly continuous. Many Nomad encampments were also met Saiadabad
with. Half way is passed the old capital and strong hold, Kala-i-Sang or K:da-i-Baiza, a lb Ullles '
oreat crag of white lime stone, tower up steeply 300 feet above the plain, and surrounded and
crowned with ruins. At ten miles a tahia and a small walled serai. Before Saiadabad is
reached three large villages are seen lying to the west from 2 to 3 miles off the road. Saiadadad
the Capital of Sirjan, is a walled town of some 600 houses and a bazar of some 180 shops. The
population, including the dwellers in the suburbs beyond the wall, is about 9,000. Supplies
are plentiful, water from kanats fair. There is a road from here direct across the hills to
Kerman and'another to Yezd, by way of the wilderness and Shahr-i-Babek.
The road is good, lying north-west by north over rolling country. At nine miles a small | a !* d ? b * d to
village and a large walled garden are passed at the edge of the rpad. At 16 miles Zaidabad, a mllegj
village of two thousand inhabitants with a good Caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). . Supplies or lodder. and iucl
procurable iu abundance, water from lanat sweet and good.