'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎25v] (55/300)

out. Just outside Ardakan, there is some sand which drifts up against the
walls, but which would not affect a telegraph line. 1 could see Maibut lying
8 to 10 miles on the right, and the ground seemed to me to be much cut up
by Kanats and water-courses. The Pa Gondeh road is the better, and has
better water, and 1 think more villages on it.
Ardakan to Poknabad.
Date.
No. of
M arch.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
»>UT
8th October 1898
8
Roknabad, 3,639 feet.
9T5
132-92
Leaving Ardakan, which we found hot, and continuing in a southerly
direction, w r e pass through some lanes and cultiiation and t un a on<_. u op
of a ridge, the going being very heavy through soft sand. It was noticed car
riages had been along here, but at times, owing to the narrowness of the road,
they had to leave it and go across country. The telegraph line is seen going oil
to the south-west to Maibut and is only 200 yards distant here, < her if ah ad is
passed on the left, 200 yards off, after half a mile’s going. At */3, Baghistan,
or gardens, start, which are kept up till 1-42. Maibut with its subur is is seen
about 4 miles off to the right, and extends for a distance o 3 miles along that
side. Dehabad we leave 2 miles to the right at 2’29 miles. The ground on
our left, or east, is very much scored and cut up with Kanats, and owing to the
soft sandv soil the rain has intersected it with many courses. Jaferabad is
passed on*the left 50 yards off at 4 36, and the large village of khuruk extends
from 4 , 812 to 5T2 on the same side. We notice Mohammadabad at 4 1,
Ivin* a mile to the right, and Bargeen is passed on the same side at 6 03 miles,
600 yards off. On our right, we have cultivation till 6;064, when the ground
is a*ain much cut up till 8*t55, where it somewhat improves, ^eh Sheikh,
200"yards, and Badrabad, 600 yards to the right, are respectively passed at 7 3 <0
and 8'165. A deep ravine is crossed by a burnt-brick bridge at 8 455, and the
villages and cultivation end here. Owing to the heavy going, it bad taken
us 4^ hours to do the 9 miles from Ardakan to Roknabad, and as this is the
best place to stop we halted here. The sand and the narrowness of the road
make the going heavy, but it is nevertheless open to wheeled traffic. 1 think
this route is better than the Maibut one, as it does not seem to be cut up to
the same extent. The country, too, is more open that ground Maibut being
a succession of continuous gardens for 8 or 9 miles from Ardakan.
Roknabad to Hujatabad.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Total
Date.
Miles.
Miles.
9th October 1898
9
O U
Hujatabad, 3,822 feet.
1445
147-37
A *ood level road leaves Roknabad in a south-easterly direction, with the
hills about 25 miles distant on either side. After 20 minutes going, the
Maihut road joins in on the right, or south-west. At 1 098 miles, over o our
ri*ht, the whole country is a net w^ork of Kanats, and it would appeal t.ie
reported 37 Kanats going to Ardakan are here all visible. On our left, is good