'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎250r] (504/610)

453
the villages of Kaghuzkunan district have been ruined by
raiders from the North, and 50 men and animals would live on
them with difficulty and would probably require additional
supplies via Zinjan.
‘ Charvadars ’ mules working along Routes No. 14 and 15 from Transport.
Zinjan to Gilan could keep a force supplied with rations, provid
ed the 4 charvadars ’ were well disposed. Commandeering of
mules for military transport would be exceptionally difficult,
owing to the truculent disposition of the Turk! people. The
Tarum villages are said to own 5,000, but this figure seems
an over-estimate.
In Khalkhal the Zinjan-Hirabad and Ardabil routes have
been abandoned for some years owing to their insecurity, and
no local transport remains.
See Chapter II Geography ‘ Strategical notes on Persian Tactical,
plateau section,’ page 108.
Route No. 14 crosses at Obar, stage 2.
Route No. 15 crosses at Darram, stage 3.
Zinjan-Hirabad route crosses in Shahrud valley, stage 5.
Zinjan-Ardabil route crosses in stage 8 .
f Taruff
mbs into
jsses fb®
No. 18. Lateral Route, along the Caspian Coast.
5 . The
With the exception of the road from Kasma to Rudisar
via Fumen, Rasht, Lahijan and Langarud, which is passable
for carts (see No. (j)* above) there is no ‘ made ’ road along the
lowland strip bordering the Caspian coast, and the sea affords
the quickest and best means of communication.
The land route consists of a series of tracks used by local
villages, or by ‘ charvadars ’ carrying rice from the productive
districts, i.e., the deltas of all the principal rivers, inland to
the mountain villages and to the towns of Kazvin and Tehran,
and only passable for ponies and mules.
Tor the most part it is sandy and runs along the beach and
sand-hills close to the sea. The beach is soft and makes heavy
' i jjje rff er going between Rudisar and the Nur district of Mazandaran,
/» /o 4-Vi-rrvn rrhrYnf. f.ViP. -nnrf.inn nxrVwvno fVi o o 4-F. ~
i.e., throughout the portion where the hills approach the coast
between the Eastern end of the plain of Gilan and the Western
end of the plain of Mazandaran, but bordering these plains it
is hard and firm and going is good except for the innumerable
streams which must be crossed. The constant fording involved
is wearisome, but, with few exceptions, is usually not difficult.
* Page 418.