'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME I' [‎98r] (200/820)

DURINGAR (No. 1)—Lat. 37° 32'30"; Long. 58° 36' 20°; Elev. 3,600/—
{Napier.)
The most northern Kurd village of the province of Darreh Gaz in Khorasan
| 19 to 21 miles from Muhammadabad by the road through the Davand
pass to Kuchan. It is more properly a collection of several hamlets on
the banks of the Darreh Gaz, or, as it is called, the Duringar stream. Each
hamlet contains 20 to 25 houses. Those lying up stream are known as
Duringar-i-Turki; the lower hamlets Duringar*i-Kurdi, the former being
inhabited by Turks, the latter by Kurds—the latter a section of the Za’af-
aranlus of Kuchan. They muster altogether about 200 “ tufangchs ”
(musketeers), which would give a population of from 1,000 to 1,200 souls.
The hamlets are all defended by good walls and towers, and the men always
around. They are indifierent marksmen and use heavy rifles, supported
on a forked rest.
DURINGAR (No. 2) (River)—
A river in north-eastern Khorasan which rises north of Kuchan. Its
principal source is at Shuraq, whence it flows north to Durb Adam and
then turns north-east to the village of Duringar. _ From here it changes
its course to the south-east and reaches Mahmudabad, where it again turns
north-east and flows into the Trans-Caspian depression at the village of Mir
K aleh. Its total length is about 64 miles.
From Shuraq to the village of Durb Adam it flows down a valley about
300 paces broad, which immediately south of the latter is a rocky ravine,
bounded by the Zubaran range on the west and Chuli on the east. From
Durb Adam to the village of Duringar it flows down a rocky ravine. From
Duringar down to Palkall * the valley never exceeds 300 yards m breadth.
From Palkall to Gulriz the Duringar flows down the Darreh Gaz plain and
thence down the valley, which contracts at Gulkhandan, and then opens
out as it approaches the Trans-Caspian depression.
From Duringar to Mir Kaleh the river valley is highly cultivated and
thickly studded with villages, surrounded by splendid orchards^ The
valley is also capable of an almost unlimited increase of cultivation m the
unirrigated lands. A very small quantity of silk is raised and some
cotton tobacco, and opium, the latter for home consumption. Prior to
about the year 1870 the use of the latter drug was unknown, but since
its introduction it has been largely consumed by all classes. Ample sup
plies are procurable. A road to Kalateh Chinar and Annau m t e Atak
leads off north-west from the villages up a narrow glen . _
Large quantities of potatoes and raisins are exported from the Duringar
villages to Askhabad (Trans-Caspia). _ .
The breadth of the river at Durb Adam is about 10 yards, with a velocity
of 1 foot a second ; at Zainadallu and Naukhandan it is about 8 yards
broad with a velocity of 3 feet a second. „
The valley from Artik, on the Central Asian Railway, to Muhammad
abad is perfectly suitable for wheeled traffic.
The Duringar receives the Incha as a tributary, which comes m from
the east. This stream has its source a little north of Mount Maidan and
* Pronounced Polu Kolu-
Z 2