‘Military report on Persia Volume I 1930’ [‎20v] (45/154)

28
Th® surface of the havir is honey-combed with small
holes about 9 inches deep and the size of a man’s head
which makes it very difficult walking for animals; but as
the soil binds well a good road might possibly be made over
it. Its mean altitude above the sea is only about 500—600
reet.
ffihe danger of crossing it depends on the rainfall.
Atter ram the surface becomes so slippery that camels
cannot move on it. After heavy rain the whole kavir
becomes a sticky quagmire, in which camels and even men
Sm v? 11 ? Can ! lot 111 ove - The only chance for a caravan
caught by a heavy ram storm when crossing is to stack
the loads with a view to returning for them later, and
make for the nearest port with all possible speed.
The Jcavir by no means occupies the whole extent shown
on the map as the Dasht-i-Kavir; it occupies a large irre
gular area about the centre, with some outlying portions.
Around the edges is sandy desert.
r P° lnt of departure for caravans from the south is
Jandak; the kavir to the north of this place is only 68 miles
across; caravans cross here in winter with the utmost
speed m constant fear of being caught by rain. In sum
mer the terrific heat prevents any caravan traffic.
f Tabas th ® re is a lar g e outlying expanse of
kavir which accounts for that oasis being left some miles
to the east by the mam route between Yezd and Meshed.
The BasM-v-Lut occupies a considerable tract in the
south-east of Khurasan. Its area may be described as a
paraHelogram the angles being marked by the towns
Neh, Tabas, Yazd and Kerman. The term hit is a general
term for wastes m this part of the country, but differs
from kmnr, as it may have sand interspersed over its sur
face, whereas kavir never has; also the lut desert is gene-
Ihrnh<f pri k kl i? d n n the b ? rders at an .T rate, with thorny
shrubs, which afford grazing for camels. In a tract called
W ^b re f n ° 7 ater ’ but the soil is not altogether saline,
l 068 not Prelude the formation of hauzes
(pools). The interior of the desert is absolutely devoid of
all signs of animal or vegetable life.
Owing to the absence of fresh water, the great heat, and
the existence of salt quagmires, these deserts can only be
by + f ° 1 i 1 i OW - ng tbe , few recognised caravan routes,
practically impassable for troops except in very smaU