‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎133v] (271/470)

216
Route No. 2 — concld.
From Rum to Gulp nig an —concld.
*
Distances in
c
miles.
fc ^
Time.
Names of towns, villages, &c.
Interme- _ , ,
diate. Total -
t?
Remarks.
Crosses several irrigation channels, irrigating fields growing wheat, which is 1' high
and of good quality.
P.M.
1-35
GulpaigIn (eleva
21
tion 5.87o')
Long. 50° 20' E.
Let. 33° 24' N.
A town of about 3,000 or 4,000 inhabit
ants and 1,500 to 2,000 houses ; its streets
are 10' to 12' wide, wider than those of most
Persian towns ; its houses are of mud :
their walls are 15' to 20' high, the roofs are domed; each house is, as usual, surrounded by
high walls of mud ; the bazar is of small size and trade seemed most inactive; its only con
spicuous architectural objects are a dome of blue glazed bricks and a high minaret of elegant
proportions ; the outer surface of the latter is of burnt brown bricks, which are worked into
various patterns and lie in all positions ; the minaret is falling into ruins. It boasts of 2
caravanserais, the largest a fairly commodious one.
A Saiyid makes powder of a poor quality, which passes current as good amongst the
sportsmen of the town.
The outskirts consist of a mass of holes excavated to supply the soil necessary to build
the houses. Walled gardens and plantations extend from the town to the low hills to the
westward.
General Remarks. —To Komain from Naziah the road passes over irrigated fields; soil
clay ; it is swampy ; ditching and drainage would improve it. From Komam to the summit
of the pass the road is generally very good, and the ascent gradual and easy, except for the
last 200/ The difficult stretches of rock met with during the descent, and" where the road
is a mere mule path, equal a total length of about 2 miles ; the rest of the descent is a good
mule track ; the last 2 miles of the descent is broad, ydth a gentle gradient.
From Gulpaigan the roads to both Sultanabad and Ibrahimabad pass through Komain
(see page 245).
The stage to the latter place is Siun, distant 16 miles from Ivomain.
The following is a route often taken from Kum to Gulpaigan :—
1. Daghan
2. Nazar
3. Dudahur or Duduk
4. Nimiwur or Nummewar
5. Uulmagird
6. Gulpaigan
Miles.
15
17
18
18
20
20
Total
108
Water is brought into the town from a spring in the hills.
The wheat and barley is harvested in July. The north-east end of the valley contains
many villages with trees and pigeon towers.
With reference to the facilities of^ converting the present mule-road into a cart-roac
12 to 15 broad (30' over the level) following the forme*
Cart-road. classification, of the 112 mites between Rum and Gulpaigan
r j 7 7 , , . , ^0 miles are classed as good, 10 miles as fair, and 12 miles ai
bad; calculated at the rates given on page 238, and allowing for an increase in its length
5 j) VvoZ 116 ' ° n account °f 'ts lessened gradient, the cost of 'the
road would be about Its. 17,800 or an average of Rs. 135 per mile.
Bridging. See pages 217, 225 % 309.