'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎131v] (267/300)

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Baloochees; do not know Persian. Maliyat 250 Krans.
This is the only place where there is camel-grazing between
Serbaz and flask.
The following is a list of the date groves and hamlets which fringe the
river banks from Serbaz to Rask, and each has a small patch of cultivation,
producing a little rice, wheat and a few beans :—
Kaddan 10 huts; Machi Mehteg 10 huts; Honak 4 huts; Kashdar 20 huts ;
Saneech 4 huts ; Ooraman (deserted); Aramkan 6 huts; Mong 20 huts; Eeth
8 huts ; Parkan 4 huts ; Kan 20 huts ; Gouroo 16 huts ; Goordar 10 huts ;
Komehtek 100 huts; Anza 10 huts ; Shardar 8 huts; Bandan 15 huts ; Peerdan
7 huts; Dipakaur 120 huts; Shormetak (deserted); Gwasul Kan 10 huts;
Aboudar (deserted) ; Dozebagan 20 huts; Jemadar 30 huts ; Mazan Zamin
(deserted) ; Bepatan 10 huts; Lehabad 20 huts; Potan 20 huts; Roodbon 20
huts; Ziaret Jah 5 huts ; He’et 20 huts ; Parood 100 huts ; Daskort 8 huts ;
Shosgeen 20 huts; Peerzabad 100 huts; Rask 100 huts.
People
Remarks
§th March 1899. Rask. Height 1,845 feet.
Temp.—5 a. m., 72°; 1 p. m., 96°; 6 p.m., 83°.
I could not get correct information for my gazetteer from these Baloochees,
so have estimated the size of the villages. Rask has 100 mud huts, 500 people.
The water-supply is plentiful from the Serbaz river, but it must be somewhat
polluted by the dirty inhabitants of the hamlets higher up stream. There are
many date palms and a fair amount of cultivation. The heat in midsummer
must be terrific, as the place is practically surrounded by hills. The inhabi
tants are a half-starved, semi-barbaric looking lot, and are very ugly, especially
the women, who have large blue beads strung through the cartilage of the
nose.
r Uh March 1899. Peshin. Height 1,275 feet.
Temp.—5 a. m., 68°; 1 p. m., 92°; 6 p. m., 87°.
Peshin must have some 300 Mud and Peesh huts with a total of 1,500
inhabitants. They are Baloochees and slaves of the Negroid type. Some of
the latter have a magnificent physique. The Peeshinees have a bad name,
their two tribes of Rinds and Barrs being known as robbers and a wild, lawless
set. There is extensive cultivation round Peshin, principally cereals. The
soil looks rich. The revenue was stated to be 5,000 Krans, but none has been
paid for 3 years. Peshin is quite the largest village met with between Pahra
and Gwadur, and has a large date palm grove. A Hindoo merchant has a shop
here. He complained to me of the unsettled state of the country, and informed
me that several loads of his merchandise had recently been stolen between Kej
and Peshin, and that he could get no compensation from the local authorities.
%th March 1899. Kastag. Height 1,035 feet.
Temp.—5 a. m., 78° ; Ip. in., 91°; 6 p. m., 87°.
There were a few Balooch tents at Kastag when we passed, the inhabi
tants of which lead a nomidic life. The water-supply is precarious from pools
in the Konagani stream. The camel grazing is good, with an abundant supply
of fuel.
§th March 1899. Dazinbast. Height 865 feet.
Temp.—5 a. m., 74°; 1 p. m., 95°; 6 p. m., 83°.
Dazinbast, like Kastag, is dependent on the rainfall for its water. The
camel grazing is good, and fuel is plentiful.