‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎144r] (292/470)

259
Route No. 3A — contd.
From Gulpaigdn to the Zarda Kuh, fyc. —^contd.
S3
305
Time.
Names of towns, villages, <£e.
Distances in
miles.
Interme
diate.
Total.
Bemarks.
A.M.
9-35
9-50
33
The ascent is gentle ; the general line
of the Afhiis Range is 320°.
Summit of the spur; barometer 22‘05"
(8,450'); snow is crossed. Road descends
into the Akhora valley, which is from 4
to 5 miles broad ; it is bounded to the
south by the snow-topped Kuh-i-MolnMt; the descent is gentle, to ^ ; soil, a stony clay ; the
rays of the sun are hot, although the shade temperature is only 60°.
10
10-10
AkhoeI-Paien
Foot of the slope ; crosses the valley.
Leaving the line of Akhora-Paien, 1
mile distant, ascends the valley, skirt
ing the Kuh-i-Afhus, hounding it to the
north ; the bottom of the valley is well
cultivated; vines and fruit trees abound ; wheat is 3 7 high ; the vines show no signs of life ; the
fruit trees are in blossom. The road is a mule track cut up by streams of snow water, and is
often swampy.
Barometer 22 , 0" (8,440'). Surface of the
road becomes hard and good; vineyards
and orchards clothe the lower slopes of
the stony hill-side.
The valley is 3 miles broad; undula
tions rise out of its bed.
10-30
...
...
10-45
...
...
11-15
AkhoeX-bXlI (eleva-
15
48
tion 8,440').
A large village lying at the head of
the valley, here 1 mile broad ; barometer
22-0"; the surrounding hills are capped
with snow. The valley is clear of snow
for 7 months ; for 5 months, i.e., from November to JVlarch, the snow lies so deep that all the
villagers have to keep to their houses ; their flocks are housed in^ underground chambeis as
described on page 249. During the 7 months of open weather provisions for man and beast for
the 5 months of winter are laid in. In June the pasture is said to be abundant and excellent;
it is then that the iliyats encamp in the vicinity. The village contains about 350 houses and
1,500 to 2,000 inhabitants (report said 3,000) (see paqe 250).
Provisions are anything but abundant in the villages of these uplands, and bailey and
„ . , . . straw, the only fodder obtainable at this season of the year
(no pasture as yet), are very scarce, feheep are numeious,
cows are scarce ; donkeys abound, every village having some 50 or 60. The village has a
prosperous appearance, and its people looked well to do. Its huts of mud are of a supenoi c ass.
Road to Shustar.
A road to Shustar is said to enter the hills at the head of the Akhora
valley ; it resembles those already described between Ali-Gudar and bhustar;
it is at present blocked by snow; the Bakhtiaris will enter the va ey y i
towards the beginning* of June.