'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎44v] (93/300)

Leaving the lonely caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). and Chappar Klianeli ol’ Shems, the road
continues in a south-easterly direction, with so gradual a descent as to be
considered practically level, and is over good firm ground. The Persian
Telegraph line crosses to the right at 1125 miles and keeps on this side, at
varying distances of 50 to 300 yards otf, till Anar We now traverse a howling
wilderness; the mountains are some 20 miles olf on either side, and save a
slight mound here and there, not an object catches the eye. At times, the
soil is black and sandy, and at others stony to rocky. Nothing breaks the weary
monotomy till 13-872 miles, when we reach a well of slightly brackish water
and where we found three uninhabited mud huts. From an eminence at 1673
miles, the first view of Anar is obtained, lying 3-| miles olf. Villages are now
in sight on all sides, and the district seems a rich and fertile one. At 18*125 and
18*915, Asadabad and Takiabad are passed on the left some 2 miles off, and a
stream of slightly brackish water is crossed at 19-65 miles. Just before reach-
ing this point, the cultivation of Auar starts. An Imam/adeh or shrine, which
contains a famous Koran stand, is passed at 19-73 miles on the left, and we
camp, close to the caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). , in a nice garden, which at the same time lies
vis-a-vis to Anar.
The road, though at times stony, is quite good enough for wheels.
Anar to Baiyaz,
Date.
No. of
March.
*
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
24th October 1898
7
Baiyaz, 4,540 feet
16*30
109-68
We are clear of Anar at *55 miles, and cultivated or fallow land bounds
either side of our route for the next 2 miles. A stream of sweet water crosses
*the road at 1’20 miles, while the hamlet of Behreez is passed on the right at 1*79
miles, lying about a mile off. Aliabad on the same side is seen at 2 57 miles.
A few yards further on, the road bifurcates, the Baiyaz track veering to the
south-east. On our left or norih-east, Sadikabad, Daoodabad and Hosseinahad,
lying from J, to a mile off, are respectively passed at 3 03, 478, and 4 24 miles,
and a stream of sweet water flowing in their direction at 4-37, whilst
Mohommedabad on the same side is passed at 5-05 miles. The road, which has
so far been shaping its course east-south-east, now runs due south-east, the
Telegraph line crossing it from right to left at 6*50. Villages, cultivation, and
fallow land again give place to a gravelly desert, level and easy going, with
nothing to note till 10 miles, when the line crosses to the right. At 10 90,
Ibraheemabad is seen about a mile to our left, while a line of sweet water
Kanats is reached at 1T84 miles. The road continue* good till 13*80 mile?,
when it becomes stony, and remains so to Baiyaz. At the same point, it divides,
the left track going to the village of Baiyaz, while the track we follow leads to
the caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). and Chappar Khaneh. The village of Mohommedabad is
passed 3 miles otf on the left at 15-475 and Bagh-i-Aseah three-fourths of a
mile on the right at 16*20. We halt on the hanks of a stream of beautifully
clear sweet water opposite to the Chappar Khaneh.
The road is open to wheeled traffic throughout.
Baiyaz to Golnabad.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
25th October 1898
8
Golnabad, 4,661 feet.
17*36
127*04