'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎94v] (193/300)

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a narrow defile, then over a small col at 3 - 80, close to where a road to Gazu
branches off, and at 4 miles we crossed a small nullah. A second nullah and
small col were traversed at the 5th mile, and at the 6th mile we entered a large
stony plain, the going over which was bad. This plain continued to the 11th
mile, when the road entered a range of* low rocky hills. The Gardaneh Sar
Zamen, or watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. , was reached at 11*30 miles, 5,250 feet, and we again
traversed a very stony plain, our direction being a little east of north, and
at 15*50 miles cross a spur of low rocky hills and debouch on to another plain,
similar to the last, at the 16th mile, at which point itud Gez Kuh, 1 mile to
our right, bears 81°. Continuing over this rough stony plain, a nullah wa»
crossed at 17*50, and at 20*10 a few trees some 100 yards to our right. Skirting
some low hills, we camped at Kul-a-Ka.
The small spur of hills wo crossed en route offers no difficulty, but the
plain is very stony and makes the going rough and tiresome. The road is not
open to wheeled traffic, but it could easily be made so. We maintained a
gradual ascent th r oughout. Kuh Taftan was kept to the left, or west.
Kul-a-Ka to Sangoon.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermedi
ate Miles.
Total
Miler
17th December 1898.
11
Sangoon, 5,774 feet.
8 15
180*59
Upon leaving the nullah at Kul-a-Ka, a direction 8° east of north was
taken through low and rocky hills, round the base of the great Kuh-i-Taftan,
the track being very rough and stony. At 2*10 miles, the path went through
a cut or cleft in the hills, which under foot was only some 2 teet wide, and at
4 feet height off the ground of just sufficient width to permit of a laden camel
passing through. The length of the cleft was 70 to 80 yards. A small stream
of excellent sweet water, 2 feet by 6 inches, known as the Ab-i-Gamchen, was
crossed at 3*90 miles flowing to our right, or east. The low hills end at 4
miles,'and we continue over rough, stony, undulating ground. A track
branches off to the right at 4 50 miles, bearing 57°, to the Hashem or tents of
Gazek, which encampment we pass a mile to our right at 6 60 miles. Our
direction now is north-north-east, while at 6*70 we cross a stream ©f sweet but
tepid water flowing towards Gazek. A few yards* further on, 6*90 miles, the
road bifurcates, the direct road to Ladis bearing due north, while we turn due
north-east, changing at 7’30 miles to due east, and after a sharp descent cross a
stream of sweet water at 7*60 miles. Sangoon hears 113°, and the cyclometer
registers 8*15 miles. To-day’s road is extremely rough and stony, and only
passable to beasts of burden. We took 4 hours to accomplish the 8£ miles.
It is quite unfit for wheels.
Sangoon to Seah Jungle.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
21st December 1898.
12
Seah Jungle,
17-40
197 99
5,205 feet.