'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎79r] (162/300)

139
Kam Kan to Chah Gez.
Date
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
16th February 1899 ...
4
Chah Gez, 3,910 feet.
17*85
58*99
We had to make our way across to the main track, so, taking a bearing of
100°, we passed through some low disconnected hills and at 2 miles emerged on
to a small valley, whence we went due north-east, till we struck the road at
3'30 miles. At this point, we had a clear view of the track of to-day’s march,*
and practically adhered to a bearing of 101°. The path here hugs the southern
base of the peculiar red conical hill already referred to, which I take to be
Ramkan—but the guide calls it Kuh Za—and gradually descends on to a large
open plain. At first, the going is excellent; it is then somewhat stony till the
drainage channel is entered at 4f75 miles, where it becomes sandy till the 5th
mile, when it is again covered with loose stones till GAO miles. We now gra
dually traverse a large gravelly plain with excellent camel grazing, at the same
time ascending, the going being very good, till tue lAth mile, when stones again
prevail. I ought to have mentioned that at the 8th mile we passed Kuh Za
(2), 1 mile to our left. At 15-80 miles, the plain practically ends and we go
along a plateau or tableland, about a mile wide, with very low hills on the right
and raise l ground on the left. The first G z or tamarisks seen en route are
passed at 16-35 miles, a few yards to our right, while a second lot is noted at
16’71, also close to our right, and a laro-e cluster at IG'OO miles to our left.
The bearing of the well from this p )int is 110°, and we cross a nullah at 17
miles to reach some high stony ground at 17'50. The halting place itself is a
quarter of a mile further on. The whole country to-day is ideaUy suitable for
a line, and an excellent road would be ensured by removing the loose surface
stones, which are small, while the ground beneath is firm and gravelly.
Chah Gez to Henjaheh.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
17th February 1899 ...
5
Henjareh, 4,220 feet...
1090
6989
Leaving camp at Chah Goz, we took a bearing of 98 and continued
radually ascending over somewhat stony undulating ground, which^was never-
leless well covered with camel-thorn and other herbage, and at 3*15 miles we
rossed a small nullah draining north into the Chah Reis plain. Gorandoo Kuh
ras passed Jth mile to our left at 4*25 miles. The plateau we had been traversing
r a s gradually contracting, and at this point was little over a mile in width,
rhile at 4*76 miles wm were among low sandstone disconnected hills. At
miles, a track branches off to Samsoor, bearing 45°, and my subsequent notes
how that the line will have to follow this track to avoid some rough ground
ncountered on our route at 6 70 and 10-20 miles. We took up our yesterday s
earinn- of 111 0 at the 5th mile, and at 6 70 miles had to trend our way