'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎81r] (166/300)

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while half a mile further on two mimosa trees, known as Kakeer Dual Jalan,
lie close to the left. . A hot trying descent over gravelly soil brings us to the
level, bare pat plain at 26 , 50 miles. Crossing this we get into low sand
drifts and sand, with its attendant mimosa and tamarisk. The Bampur fort is
distant to our right about half a mile, and we cross the road leading from it to
Pahra at 30 miles, while at 30^- miles we camp on the bank of a stream of
sweet water and half a mile to the south-east of Bampur and its fort, which
bears 309°. The line will not come to Bampur, but will go direct to Pahra.
Note .—The following names of springs and distances on the direct Eazman-Pakra route
were given to me :—
Bazman to—
Kahurkan
Parrek
Kaskin
Dabgezan
Tramp Bazmanee
Peesh Malik
Chahkan
Gwadin Kuh
Pahra
9 miles
11 *
)) •••
... 10
... 4
>>
... 6
... 2
» •••
... 4
• • •
... 8
... 2
)>
Dig for water.
Sweet, perennial spring.
Sweet rain water.
Brackish spring.
Sweet, perennial spring.
Wells, sweet, perennial.
Wells, sweet, perennial.
Brackish spring.
Abundant supply.
Total Bazman to Pahra ... 56J miles.
Bampur to Pahra.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
26th February 1899 ...
10
Pahra, 2,300 feet
15'43
177-86
After a three days’ halt at Bampur, thanks to the kindness of Mirza Ali
Khan Javar, the Naib-ul-Hukumeh, in placing the Governor’s camels at my
disposal, I was able to make a start. The road from Bampur, the old, to
Pahra, the new, capital and seat of government, is good and fit for wheels
throughout. Shortly after leaving Bampur, PbO miles, the road bifurcates.
The left, or north one, being more direct and skirting the sand hills, is barren,
whereas the right, or south one, keeps in the jungle and close to the river
with its cultivation. Nasireah and Allahabad are passed in the first 3 miles,
lying a short distance to the right. At 5 miles, the river is only 50 yards off
(the cultivation having ceased), and after following its right bank through
two deep nullahs, or probably canal beds, we reach the Sar-i-Band or dam.
The dam is of mud and tree branches, and must require annual repairs and
renewal. When I passed, a considerable volume of water was escaping
through a breach in the dam, while one large canal, 5 feet by 3, was taking
down a sufficient supply to irrigate the tillage of 60 pairs of oxen. The
country to our left at 11 miles is open and fallow with no trees, while on the
right the jungle is also sparse. The road emerges on to open ground at 12'20
miles, having low sand hills on the left, and from this point the Pahra cara-
vanserai-like fort bears 70 3 . The alternative route from Bampur joins in at
13T5 miles. We now continue over a stony gravelly plain towards Pahra,
gradually rising, and cross a stream of sweet clear water at 15*37 miles, which
a few yards further up drives a mill. Close to the mill, there are several
“ Ketouk ” or palm leaf huts. The rectangular Government building, resem
bling a huge caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). , is of mud, with walls 12 feet to 15 feet high, and
with round towers or bastions in the corners and also in the middle of the
walls. The entrance is of burnt (kiln) brick. We encamped near the
Yakhtekan, a sort of refrigirator, at 15*65 miles.