'Appendix to Routes in Persia. Section II' [‎11v] (22/86)

6
Route No. 1— concld.
Baghdad to A
armanshah via, Khanakin — concld.
Distances, in
miles.
No. of
stage.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Rexiauxs.
Road good and passable to all arms when culverts are made over streams in plain ; fuel
plentiful in hills ; water as noted ; forage except in winter.
15
Kabmanshah
16J
222
Road north-east broad and level track over
friable soil of plain ; gradually approach bare
hills; at 6 miles road becomes stony, crosses a
stream, and gently ascends, gradually narrowing ;
valley well cultivated. \
At 8 miles ascend hillsides to pass, road stony and narrow in parts, reaching summit
at 9s miles ; descend gently 200' to cultivated valley, 2 miles broad; karez stream follows
road ; from here to end of march water frequent.
At I'dg miles commence ascent of low range hills, cross by open pass at 14| miles;
descend gradually to plain and reach Karmanshah at 16§ miles.
Supplies of every sort abundant; water plentiful; room for camp; forage plentiful;
fuel from mountains.
Road throughout good and passable to all arms; water throughout; fuel from hills;
some supplies and forage except in winter.
Note on above route Bagful ad-Karmanshah. —Cavalry could traverse the above road in
fewer marches by going from Ivarind to Mahidasht in two days.
Infantry might have to divide some of the longer marches into two; carrying supplies
if none available on road.
The road is at its best as regards supplies, weather, etc., in April and May; in winter
the route presents a different aspect, there being no crops and the nomads having descended
with their flocks to the Tigris plain; in winter therefore special precaution should be taken.
Extremes of heat and cold at the different seasons of the year would be experienced accord-
ing to elevation.
The following is an alternative route between Ilarunabad and Mahidasht (stages 13 and
14 above:—
16
Mahidasht
22
Leave Harunabad by a good road which runs in
an easterly direction along the Harunabad plain,
skirting the foot of the hills bounding it to the
north. At 1^ miles pass Bayray at the foot of the
hills on the left; 20 houses, no trees, water from a stream. At 2d miles a road runs straight
on which joins this route again at 4^ miles. It is over the plain and is the route for guns.
Route now north-north-east up a narrow valley between low hills following the telegraph
wire. After an easy ascent reach their summit, 100 feet above the plain, at 2j miles ; then
descend steeply by a track impassable for guns for 100 feet and at 3d miles cross a small
stream at the base of the hill, direction now north-east. At 4 miles pass Siah Khwar, 10
houses, no tree's. Water from a stream and ascend gently amongst uneven ground, a
depression on the right. At 65 miles pass Karim Harsilla 20 houses on the right of the road,
no trees, w^ater from a stream. At 7| miles enter the hills and ascend by a road covered
with loose stones. At 9d reach the summit of the Gardanah Nal Shikana, elevation
5,500 feet, over its level summit and descend by a winding road on an easy gradient,
ro f, ky and slippery in places. At 10d miles reach the plain. Direction now nearly north. At
10| miles reach Zeberi, 20 houses, 2 coffee shops, no trees, water plentiful from a strean>, and
ascend gently up the plain. At 12 miles cross an imgation stream. At 13d miles, enter a
defile and ascend by a good road through stream with big loose stones. At 14 miles, reach the
summit of the Gardanah Chah Zowar, elevation 5,590 feet, and commence a descent between
hills covered with scrub jungle. A stream on the left. At 14f miles pass Chah Zowar
Bala, a village of about 10 houses and a few trees. At 1 of miles a track joins the road
from Karmanshah via Siah Kamar. On descending gently the direction veering round to
north-east. At about 16| miles reach the plain of Mahidasht and at 22 cross the Ab-i-Merk
by a small masonry bridge, there is a ford immediately above it, and enter Mahidasht.
Roadgood and passable to all arms throughout. Troops could camp at Zeberi at 10J
miles or at about the 16th mile by going a short distance down the Siah Kamar road where
there are numerous streams, and ground suitable for camping.
From Karma
Authority and
No, of
stage.
N ames 0
1 Nazaba
plentiful ; and f
left along the fo
pass the foot c
small hamlet on
stream filling a
the stream passii
village of Nazar
lioad passal
grazing, no tre
pool. (Supplies:
Sar-ab
F AB.
an irrigation str
west. At 2f :
containing abou
going in a soul
Karmanshah to
3.1 miles join a
skirting hills 1
us, running tow
trees visible at
of Lillofar. At
Road good
Excellent j.
full of spring:
vicinity ; eleval
3 Chah
Bala
are impassable 1
gradually. At
Mabidasht pla
4£ miles the tw
through Chiah
Water from we
south-south-we
with villages, £
(September). I
pass by the vilh
At 91 miles cm
20 to 30 yards
to guns. At 9f
tion now south