‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎22r] (48/470)

23
Bassdki, Ihe encampment of Mula Ali Khan, lies a few miles to the
eastward of Pelart, or Felat, under the Kuh-i-Dina, the passage of which for
midable hill has to be made between Bassaki or Pelart and Sisakht or Chenar.
Mula Ali Khan treated the party most hospitably ; his son is connected
by marriage with the family of the llkhani of the Bakhtfans and is Pay
Sergeaut of the Bakhtiarf Horse. The distinction with which the party had
been treated bv its colonel (see page 4) had become known throughout
the regiment and caused it to be well received by all its members, who are
widely scattered.
Mula Ali Khan would not hear of my taking the direct road of 2 stages
to Khurrah near Chenar, a Kuhgehlu encampment, on account of its diflicul-
ties. On arrival at Khurrah, 1 was informed that this was an easier mad
than the one of 3 stages rid Sisakht, which I actually took, but that possibly
the two rivers which I found so difficult to ford might have proved imprac
ticable to cross unless they had been bridged by the llivats.
Changing guides at Bassaki on June Gth, Kina, distant 2J miles, elevation
7,200 feet, was reached by good mule tracks; the greatest
Kina, 24 miles. difficulty was experienced in fording the Malburr stream,
a rapid and deep hill torrent. After expending an hour in fruitless attempts
to cross it, and when, in despair, further attempts were about to be given up,
a Saiyid appeared, well acquainted with the nature of the ford. It was
crossed at a very oblique angle and by allowing the animals to be almost
carried down-stream, whilst at the same time, guided by two men, they were
gradually steered across. Highest elevation crossed 8,400 feet. A better
halting place would have been Khafr (elevation 7,000 feet) at the foot of the
Kuh-i-Dina, distant from Kina about 4 miles.
On June 7th the passage of the Kuh-i-Dina was made at an elevation
of 10,880 feet (Gardan-i-Bazurr), Sisakht, at the foot of its southern slopes,
elevated 7,000 feet, being reached after a journey of 15
Sisakht, 2u miles. hours’ duration. Here Ali Baksh, chief of the district,
provided for the wants of the party.
The mule track followed could, without difficulty, be improved into a
good mule road; the gradients are not as a rule steep; where steep, by zig-zag
ging, they could be made gentle. Snow was crossed, but it was hard frozen
and pleasant to walk or ride over.
On the 8th the Kuhgehlu encampment of Wall Khan at Khurra, distant
Khurra near Chenar, 25 miles, elevation 7,390 feet, was reached by an
25 miles. easy track. The crossings of the Derruhun and
Chowjehun streams, just above their point of junction to form the
Kharsun river were extremely difficult, they being
Kharsun river. a ^. jq ie ^hne swollen mountain torrents.
It should be noted that the winter of 1883-84 was a sevei*e one and
of long duration; consequently the melting of the snow occurred later this
year than is generally the case; ordinarily the streams in June would be
more readily forded and the passes be less blocked by snow.
A considerable number of oaks of a small size grow in this district. The
valley pastures had already assumed the brown and yellow tints of maturity.
The Iliyats cut and stack no fodder; they prefer to migrate to greener and
more elevated pastures (see pages 351, 303, 304).
The Kuhgelhu chiefs laughed at the idea of this read being supposed to
he a caravan route and assured me that no caravan ever took it. Local traders
use it.
Y