'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎10r] (24/300)

Startin'; from Koorae*hah at 6-45 a. m., a very gradual ascent is made over
an open plain, with a bearing of 43° or N-E, along a good firm gravelly road.
At 1-92 miles, a line of Kanats is passed, running west to east The track con
tinues up the plain, is splendid and rises very gently. At 5 372 miles, a path
loins in on the east or right rear, which goes down to Habibabad direct, ieavmg
Koomeshahone mile to the west. Muleteers travelling from Habibabad to
Khasehtarash, and not wishing to stop at Koomeshah, take this road, which
is said to be a mile shorter. At this same point, 5’372, Jahanabad is seen lying
about a mile to the west, left. A valley is entered at 6 05b, with low rockv
hills about one mile to the east, right, and 14 miles to the west, left. Koad
bears 56°, and is splendid. At 9*895, the bills on the right, or east, recede to
3 miles, while those on left, west, approach to half a mile. Good grazing in this
valley. A bifurcation of the road takes place at 10*01 miles. The one to the lelt,
north, goes to Bagherabad, bearing 12°, thence to Sholgistan and Katenz. 1 e
Khasehtarash road bears 74°, and gradually ascends. From 11* 150 to 11*210, a dry
torrent bed with a gravelly bottom is crossed. The ground on either side is good
and firm It is said to contain a little water in winter. Bhagherabad is seen
at 11*210, lying about four miles to north, left. At 12*860, some rums are passed
at 10 feet right and 50 feet left, and we pass through a defile, the rocky hills
coming down to 30 yards on the right, or east, and 25 yards on the west or
left. From 12-963 to 13*531, the road keeps in the bed or on the bank ot
a small dry torrent bed. Khasehtarash is reached at 13*94. The road is
splendid throughout, open to wheel traffic, and is stated to be never blocked, it
is principally used by camel men, muleteers preferring to go from Koomeshah
rid Bagh-i-Shah to Natenz, which is considerably shorter ; but there is a bad
pass on that road, said to be blocked in winter. Up to this point, the whole
road from Ispahan is fit for wheels.
Khasehtarash to Bagham.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Interraediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
•
s*
27th September 18i>8 ...
5
Bagham, 6,604 feet.
18*21
56*27
V
The road from Khasehtarash goes due east, gently ascending: a valley about
one mile broad with good firm going to *750, where it unnecessarily enters a
small dry nullah and follows it till *850. The ascent is very gradual to 3*844
miles, where a slight descent is made. The ever-narrowinn valley is only 400
yards wide at this point, but again broadens out to the right, or south-east, and
possesses good grazing. The surface soil is a sandy-earth with a rocky bottom.
At 4*34S,°the road gradually ascends and the rocky mountains to the right
and left, east and west, which have been running parallel io us so far, now open
out on the right to a plain four miles broad, which debouches on to the great
Ispahan plain. The small village of Chah Reeca, bearing 122°, is seen lying to
the right at 4*348, while at 5*325 a small knoll is crossed, and we go over slightly
undulating ground to 5*890. AUe enter some low sand-stone bills at 6 98, and
another road from Habibabad to Natenz crosses our route here. At the same
point, the hills on the left or north cease, and give place to a large open plain
some 12 miles by 8, on which several flocks of sheep were seen grazing, and
which stretches over towards Sholgistan. At 7 525, a spiing ol sweet vatei is
passed one mile to the right or south, and at 8*713 the hills on the right recede
to two miles. This excellent road continues, and at 12*010 Hassanabad is seen
lying three miles to the right. Another road to Sholgistan crosses ours at 12*582,
while at 13*39 a grove of trees is noticed to the right three miles off, but there
is no habitation or perennial water here. 13*862 brings us to the end of the
plain: 13*940 road to Jumbeh is passed on the right. At 14*415, the open water-