'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME I' [‎312v] (643/820)

600
PlR—PIS
After emerging from the Kfipeli Dagt range the Pirzfi runs in a southerly
direction, entering the Meshed plain at the village of Chandarreh, and
thence falling into the Kashaf Rud, a little south of Misgaran. There is
generally very little water in the river after it leaves the mountains, as it
is nearly all taken off by irrigation canals en route.
The river flows down a rocky and difficult defile to within 2^-miles o^ Al,
where it opens out somewhat and there is a certain amount of cultivation.
Below the village the valley again contracts, the Meshed-Kalat-Kakhka
road running aiung the river bed, and perpendicular cliffs rising upon either
side without a break for 200 feet ; this portion of the valley as far as Qardeh
is known as the Darband-i-Al. Lower down,
Gazetteer. ^ va p ey a g a i n becomes a defile and is known
as the Darband-i-Andarukh ; this defile is miles in length and consists
simply of the bed of the stream, varying in breadth from 30 to 100 feet,
including the space occupied by the water. The cliffs on either side rise
sheer out of the water to a height of 200 feet, and are quite impracticable,
while the bends of the defile present numerous excellent sites for forts. It
can, however, be easily turned by infantry sming to right or left over the
hills, which are not difficult.
The Pirzu has the Si] and PIrzuvu as tributaries on the left bank and the
Bulghur, Marish and Bara on the left bank. The Marish is formed by the
two°streams of Karmavat and Khurkai, which unite at the village of Maiish
and fall into the Pirzu near the village of Yakh. The Marish receives
the Gash on the right bank. All these tributary streams constitute moun
tain torrents, which have their sources in inaccessible mountains ; wherever
their valleys open out, they are cultivated and produce the finest crops in
Khorasan.
A difficult route from Meshed to Kalat andKakhka runs up the valley
of the Pirzu .—(MacGregor ; Oranoffsky, 1892.)
PISAK or PISUKH—
A village and old ruined fort situated at the entrance of the Samapd-
i-Shah pass, on the road from Birjand to Kain and 10 miles from the former.
It consists of 60 houses and 50 inhabitants, and possesses 15 cattle.
The village is surrounded by gardens, and there is a little cultivation. The
annual production of wheat and barley (f wheat, J barley) in ordinary
years is about 70 Indian maunds. The mdlxat is one-tenth of the produce,
as the kdriz belongs to the village. Plentiful and good water-supply —
(0. Wanliss, July 1903.)
PISARAK— Lat. 37° 13' 25" {Fraser)', Long. 55° 18' 56"—(£*. John).
A ruined village in ihe province of Astarabad, 55 miles north-east of the
town of Astarabad.
A village in northern Khorasan, about 16 miles east of NIshapur, a little
north of the road to Danud and Qadamgah.—(JSeZZew.)
PISH1NGAN—
A spring overlooked by a small tower, on the south-east border of Khora*
san, 30 miles from Yazdan and 38 from Sabzawar. A large body of