'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎70r] (144/300)

121
Bam to Vakielabad.
——— — #
Date.
No. of
Miles.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
30th November 1898 ...
1
obi**,
Vakeelabad
2,785 feet.
18-29
18*29
Two days were spent in Bam in preparing and procuring the necessary
transport for the desert stages beyond itegan. Starting from the house placed
at our disposal by the Grovernor, which was near the centre of Bam.} we at first
went tinough bazaais and streets } and at '16 miles struck the Tehrud bed.
Keeping down this for a quarter of a mile, the road bears east-south-east and
leaves the bed to the left at e 8S, where the lanes and houses end on the right,
while an Imam Zadeh, or shrine, is registered at the first mile, 100 yards to'the
left, and Bam may be said to enddiere. Our road continues gradually descend
ing over a gravelly plain, and the second mile is registered near the Chehal
Koreh ruins. The end of the third mile brings us to a cutting in the
road, and a short sharp descent is made to a stream of sweet water, 3 which is
crossed at 4*06. This stream flows down to the large and flourishing Village of
Bora, ^which extends on both sides of the road from 4*16 to 4*88 miles. ^ We
have been veering towards the east, and the road is perfect now, while at 4*88
miles a large stream of sweet water, whose banks are fringed with willows,
pampas, palms, and tamarisk, is first seen 50 yards to our right. This stream
accompanies us practically throughout the march, the trees stopping at the
lOthr mile and the brook crossing to our left at the 17th mile. We halt on its
bank, a mile short of Vakeelabad. The road throughout was excellent, being
a scarcely perceptible descent, over a gravelly to sandy plain. There would
be an absolute straigiit and uniform run of 15 miles here—a perfect stretch.
Vakeelabad to Bourj Agha Mohommed.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
1st and 2nd Dec. 1898...
2
Bourj Agha Mohommed
2,440 feet.
19*49
37-78
Continuing in an east-south-easterly direction and still descending, we now
enter a low jungle of tamarisk, pampas, konar, kahur and other trees, the soil
being covered with a white salty efflorescence for the first 5| miles. The small
mud hamlets of Chehel Tukhm, Khargoshabad, Sharkabad, and Bustomabad
from one-fourth to one mile to the left and Kassimabad, Mohommedabad and
Hosseinabad on the right are passed between the 2nd and 5th miles. At 5'52
miles, the jungle ceases, and we traverse an open gravelly plain and cross a
marshy stream by a good burnt brick bridge of 11 arches, 8 feet broad, and in
good repair at 6*11 miles. On the right bank of this stream is Azeezabad, a
small village with a lot of cultivation. A stream of sweet water is crossed at
6 /6 miles, and here the ground on both sides of the road is under cultivation—
principally wheat. A narrow deep nullah, with a small stream in it, is crossed
at 6-98 miles. A second hamlet, named Azeezabad, is passed through at 8'2:l
b 7—31