'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎128r] (260/300)

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T^rom Ziaret-Jah to Rasli, tho lulls on eifchor side the river are more open,
smaller and not ragged as in the previous marches. Up to this point, 1073
miles, and since entering the hills on the Bampur plain, the track has been
in river beds for the most part, between high, precipitous and rocky moun
tains, and is liable to become impassable at any moment.
Rask to Peshin.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Int rmediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
7 th March 1899.
7
Peshin,
1,275 feet.
27-85
135*62
Our camp at Rask was pitched under a lnr?’e mimosa tree, and just at the
entrance to the village from the Serbaz end. We therefore had quite a mile
of palms and cultivated valley to traverse before we turned to the east into
a range of low hills, the actual entrance being made at 1*90 miles. The 2nd
mile is registered opposite a small Ziaret hut on the left, and here the track
bifurcates, the right path leading to Daptan, thence to Peshin, and also to
Balm Kelat, while we follow the left and direct road to Peshiu. We wind
about in the stony hills, and at 3 - 50 miles enter a raviue in which there is a
profuse growth of Peesh. A short sharp ascent brings us to the top of the
Kodar Kalar Zangiau at 4*2() miles, and we continue along a plateau to the
7th mile, when we change our direction to due east. The going is still stony
through low hills. At 1010 miles, we enter the bed of the Screen Kaur, a left
bank affluent of the Serbaz This mountain torrent had several pools of water
in it, as there had just been a heavy rain-fall. Leaving rhe Sereen Kaur at
1115 miles, we proceed up a small valley, passing to our right at 11*70 miles a
small. Balooch encampment. A graveyard is passed at 14 miles, and a few
yards further on we cross the Kibgander Knur. Keeping alomr the valley and
cros>iug a nameless torrent bed at 18 miles, we dually clear the hills and
debouch on to the extensive Peshin plain at 18*80 miles. Away in the distance
and bearing 118°, lying at the foot of a range of low hills, we can just see the
Peshin fort, and make for it over a stony plain, where a good firm track exists.
The branch road via Daptin, which left us at 2 miles, joins in again at 19 miles.
The plain stretches as far as the eye can see to the east towards Mand, while
its western limit is said to be Kasrkand. It is the parallel plain to the Bampur-
Ma gas-Kuhak one, at a lower altitude, and of course nearer to the sea coast.
We enter a low jungle of mimosa and acacia, dwarf palm and tamarisk at 21
miles, which somewhat resembles the Narmasheer, and which possesses superb
camel grazing and an abundance of fuel. Water, however, appears to he limit
ed. A second road from D iptau joins in at 25 30 miles. The first cultivated
ground is noted at 26*20 miles, and at 261 miles we enter a date grove, and
cross a species of canal, and, emerging on to higher ground, notice the first batch
of Peshin beehive thatched huts. Passing these at 26*80 and a graveyard at the
27th mile, we leave the mud fort and main village on our right, and, traversing
a date grove, camp on the banks of a stream close to the hills.
Peshin to Kastag.
Date.
No. of
March.
I
-r, Imermediate
Ruu,e f Miles.
1
Total
Miles.
8th March 1899
8
Kastag, 1,035 feet.
12T6
147-78
b 7 - 0*0