'Report on the preliminary survey of the route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line. By W King Wood, Assistant Superintendent, Indo-European Telegraph Department.' [‎10v] (25/300)

4
shed with low hills on .either side is
Hie descent to Barham is likewise easy. At 15 84, Jumbeli is sc. n lyi „
mile to the rio-ht ° From 17'678 to 17-927, we go down a dry torrent bed
Set bv I' wUile'the valley is 150 yards broad, with firm ground on both sides
sloping up to the hills: no obstacle to a telegraph line ; only m case ot excess ve
rain is 5 there a flow of water. The whole road so far is opened to wheeled
traffic.
The “ pass ” is a misnomer, as there is none ; it is nameless. Several donkeys
were encountered drawing up mill-stones four f ~ e V“ ^
thick, which are hewn in the neighbourhood, this and the altitudes will . ow
the very easy gradient.
Ba.gham to Ardistan.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
0 ^“*
28tk September 1898 ...
6
Ardistan, 4,082 feet.
16-35
72-61
Continuing in a north-easterly direction, a very gradual descent is made
town the valley, which ,s about 200 yards broad, .the road at times oUoning
he dry torrent bed. This torrent bed is occasionally flooued m a rery rainy
rear but as the -round on either side is sloping, high and firm, a safe alignment,
jould be found by keeping on the high ground. Should a f | ood ^gl^miies
IS said to subside iu 24 hours. The drainage area is very sinall. At 2 99-, mle
the valley widens out to 500 yards with rocky peaks on s ’ d “’^
north-west, and a mountain track to Ardistan strikes off to the left, north nest,
rroad is seen going to Zavareh at 3-24, while at 3'458 two peculiar rock ,,, lars
catch the eye on the north-west range. They are 15 to 20 feet high and have
a Strikin- appearance to two human figures. The valley divides at 3 93o, i
torrent bed w P e have been following taking the 200-yards ravine to the ri S 1
north-east, while the direct Ardistan route goes due north or to Jejeft, throngl
a valley 300 yards wide with rocky peaks on both sides. At 4 0-7, Ta. , -
seen three-fourths of a mile to the right, west, and the valley opens out re s
well cultivated, and is a flourishing place. 1 rom this point to 5 1 , .
torrent bed 40 feet by 2, is crossed, the road is somewhat rough and hi oke
up and would be difficult in its present state for wheels, the ravine at one point
behi- onlv 80 to 90 vards broad. This is, however, no obstacle to a telegrap
line At' 5-146, the torrent bed is left, and an ascent made up a rocky knoll
at 5-225, which culminates at 5-3:35, the aneroid showing 5,7o0 feet llio .o, d
continues over low rooky knolls or diminuhve hills, and .^ ot "P a< ; 1
strikes off to the right, east, to Masbandee. At 6-2/«, a ^ >
‘)0 vards hv 2 yards, is crossed, which is again crossed at 7 29, the road mt. ,
\,J undulatin'' over low sand-stone hills. The valley widens to half a mile on
the’left and 200 yards on the east, right, at 7-644, and at 7-750 Bedeshk is seen
lying to the lei ,half a mile off. The road rs aTwS no ^
descendin ' to the Kashan Yezd plain, which is reached at 8 118, at which point
the hills cease. At 10-672, a small Ab ambar is passed on the left, which is
s id to contain rain water for two months, December and January, yearly. At
12 976 Ze road to Zain is seen on the left, and at 13-412 a second Ab ambar
of stone and mud with a burut-brick, arched roof 21 by 9 ^S^t is passe
which contains water three months annually. At 16 299, the Mo liar roar 3
crossed then a line of Kanats leading to Ardistan and a stream oi ?ood watei,
also going to Ardistan. We camp opposite the caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). at 16-35 on the
southern end of the town. The main caravan and chappar road from Kashan
to Yezd is struck at Ardistan,