'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎120v] (245/300)

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was passed mile to our right, and at 9 50 miles we passed over the edge of
a range of sand hills. A.t this point (9‘50), there is a small Mil or pillar, SO*
yards°r.o the right, known as Ohahwish, and marks the spot where a famous
robber was built up alive, some 8 years ago, by Ismail Khan Javar. A rich
plain was now in view, with an abundance of sweet running water. At 9^
miles, we changed our bearing to 259°, and at 10 miles passed through cultiva
tion and fallow land to 11-50 miles, where we noticed a stream of water
emerging from a Kanat, and camped on the high ground jmjt; above it. Ihe
measurement to the village w T as 12 miles.
Fahreh to Hajiabao.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles..
9th February 1899
11
Hajiahad.
14*94
191*30
For the first mile after leaving Fahreb, we traversed a sandv plain, with;
several Kanats, in a south-south-east direction, and entered a thin jungle, which
became very thick at 3‘50 miles, fho Kanat ot sweet water co ing from
Ibrahimahad, a hamlet half a mile to our right, was passed at A20 miles, while
half a mile further on we passed through .junabad, on some rising ground, and
have an extensive view of the jungle and the desert, which is on a lower level
to the, north-east and east. The jungle gradually opens out, and, after passing
the small hamlet of Hording at 5'75 miles, we emerge on to a hard gravelly
plain, and have an excellent road to our camp, A track from Bourj Agha
Mohamad to Deh Yagi Khan crosses ours at 6 60 miles, and at 6;75 we pass
the hamlet of Zaminabad with its pond of sweet water aud cultivated land.
There is nothing of note as we cross the desert plain, keeping our south-south
east direction, till 11 *40 miles, when we pass close to the left ot a big tamarisk
tree. At 13 90 miles, a line of Kanats flowing from west to east, the water of
which can be reached by a five-foot rope, is passed. A track crosses ours at
14*40 miles, and at 14~75 we pass a kiln for baking Kanat pipes, where there*
is a stream of sw eet water. We camp on the banks of the stream, and a
quarter of a mile to the east of Hajiabad, where the grazing is good..
Hajiabad to K-egan.
Date;
No. of
March.
Route..
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles..
10th February 1899 ...
12
Regan, 2,290 feet.
8*88
20018
We had a short and very pleasant march to Regan through low jungle,,
which in many places was cleared and under cultivation, which was well
advanced, and this green carpet with an occasional Kahur and Konar, and
here and there a strip of tamarisk, gave the country a truly park-like appear
ance. Several francolin and a few wood-pigeons were seen, and an easy shot
at one of the latter proved successful. It was difficult to take or register any
true hearing, hut I made it 155° for the first 3 miles, aud 146° for the remain
ing 6 miles° Several streams of sweet, limpid water, whose hanks were fringed
with a delicate green grass and clover, also many Kanats,^ crossed, our path.
We could not see beyond the distance of a mile on either side. It is therefore
possible several hamlets escaped our notice. Ababad at 70 miles, Mahmad-
abad at 2 63 miles and another village at miles were seen on the right side,
while Meerahad was to our left at 1 40 miles. I noted that the cultivation of
Regan started at 6 60 miles and continued up to the town, 8*88 miles. .Here
we were batik again in Regan after an absence of just 2 months. The climate
is much warmer, and spring well advanced.