'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎10v] (25/300)

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#hed with low hills on cither side is readied. Ascent is scarcely perceptible:
the descent to Bagham is likewise easy. At 15*S4, Jumbdi is seen lyin" one
mile to toe ri^ht. From I7‘t)78 to 17 927, we go down a dry torrent lied 40
fe it by w.iile t ie va'ley is 150 y«»r Is broid, with firm «:rounl on both sides
tlopin ' up to th^ hills: no obstacle to a telegraph bn *; only in ca^o of excess re
tain is’there a flow of water. The whole road so far is opened to wheeled
traffic.
The “ pass ” is a misnomer, as there is none ; it is nameless. Several donkeys
were encounter i d drawing up mill-ston s four feet in diimeter and eighi. inches
thick, widen are hewn in tae neighbourhood. This and the alt.tudes will show
the very easy gradient.
Bigham to Ardistan.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
iMiles
T(»tal
Miles.
28th September 1898 ...
G
Ardistan, 4,082 feet.
1635
72*61
Continuing in a north-easterly direction, a v ery gradual descent is made
down the valley, wh ch is about 200 yards broad, the road at times following
the dry torrent bed. This torrent bed is occasionally flooded in a very rainy
year, hut as the ground on either side is sloping, high and firm, a safe alignment
could be foun.t hy keeping on the high ground. Siiould a flood take place, it
is said to subside in 24 hours. The drainage area is very small- At 2 092 miles,,
the valley wid *ns our, to 500 yards with rocky peaks on either side, south-east and
north-west, and a mountain track to Ardistan strikes off to the left, north-nest.
A road is sev j n going to Zivareb at 3*24, while at 3*458 two peculiar rock p llais-
catch the eye on the north-west range. They are 15 to 20 feet high, and have
a striking appearance to tw • human figures. The valley divides at 3*935, the
torrent bed wo have been following taking the 200-yards ravine to the right or
north-east, while the direct Ardistan route goesdue north, or to the left, through
a valley 30J yards wi le wkh rocky peaks on both side-i. At 4*627, Laseeb is
seen three-fourths of a mile to the rigot, we>t, and the valley opens out here, is
well cultivated, and is a flourishing place. From this point to 5?146, where a dry
torrent bed, 40 feet bv 2, is crossed, the road is somewhat rough and broken
up, and would he difficult in its present state for wheels the ravine at one point
being only 80 to 90 yar Is hr >ad. This is, however, no obstacle to a telegraph
line." 5 At* 5*14(5, tiie t Trent b *d is left, and an ascent made up a rocky knoll
at 5 225, w iio i c Umin it *s at 5* 5 55. the aneroid showing 5,750> feet. f J h<* road
continues over low roc cy knolls or diminutive hills, and at 5*551 a foot-path
strikes off to th 1 right, east, to Maffiaudee. At 6*27»*, a dry torrent bed,
90 yar Is by 2 yards, is crossed, whic > is ajain crossed at 7*29, the road interven
ing, undulating over low smd-stouo hills, ihe valley widens to half a mile on
the left ami 200 yards on the east, right, at 7*644, and at 7*750 Bedeshk is seen
lying to the left, half a. mile off. The road is again excellent, gradually
descending to the K uban Yezd plain, which is r< ached at 8 118, at which point
the hills Vas*. At 10*672, a small Ah amhar is passed on the left, which is
said to contain rain water f<»r two months, December and January, yearly. At
12 976, the roid to Z>iu is seen on the le t, and at 13*412 a second Ah ambar
of stone and mu l with a burnt-brick, arched ro >f, 21 bv 9 by 5 u e^, is passed,
which contains water tlnec months annually. At 1G‘299, the Moghir io.td is
crossed, then a line of K?mats leading to Ardistan and a stieam oi -oml water,
also going t" Ardistan. We camp opposite the caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). at 16*3o on the
southern end of the town. The main caravan and chapp ar road from K ash an
to Yezd is struck at Ardistan,