'Appendix to Routes in Persia. Section II' [‎24r] (47/86)

Route No. 18.
Harunabad to Karmanshah via Tang-i-Showan.
Authority and date. —Burton, August 1897.
the Zimkan river,
1 banks, 10 yards
i 4 ; the path then
h-east) y mile wide,
e valley narrows to
jam and, the valley
louses, at 2 j miles.
Is to either hand
miles to the left
of the Milamihan
illage of Simani,
up a side vallev,
n being threshed
3 rslied between the
dl spring and pool
vhieh graze many
reach ground for
to the south-east i
from which and
itiful. Elevation
ikan river and at
s from the villages
Distances, in
miles.
No. of
stage.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Rkharks.
i
Tang-I-Showan. 12| 12f Follow the main Karmanshah road from Harunabad
for 3 miles, when branch off in an easterly direc
tion across the plain by a smooth track ; at f* miles
reach and ascend a stony ridge at the foot of
which a path from the main road to the summer camp of Mahomed Ali, chief of the Kalhur
Kurds, runs north and south. Enter a grassy valley on the further side of the ridge; here is
standing corn, and a number of sheep and cattle grazing; follow the valley to 6 § miles,
cross a second ridge and skirt stony hills ; here a path to Shaini diverges south-east. At Gj a
small stream crosses the road. At 7 miles pass the small village of Zarda Sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. , 15 houses (10
bough huts in summer), some cultivation and a poor supply of water ; cattle and sheep ; cross
some stony undulations, and at miles descend to the Zeberi plain; road to Zeilan diverges
east-north-east across the plain. Turning north the path reaches at 10 miles the village of
Chulak on the western edge of the plain ; 12 houses and 10 bough huts in summer ; a consider
able amount of cultivation and abundant water from Jcarez stream; a few willows. At 10^ miles
strike north-east across the plain, which is well cultivated ; large numbers of sheep and goats
grazing, and nomad camps scattered about. At 12f miles reach the gardens of Tang-i-Showan
which stands nearer the mountains on either side of the road to the pass.
Road throughout good and passable to all arms; no fuel; food and abundant grass; water
as noted. Practically no supplies till the plain of Zeberi is reached, and then in summer only.
Tang-i-Showan has 90 houses ; water plentiful; forage abundant and wood from the adjacent
mountain ; supplies and camp room. Elevation 5,350 feet.
th round the end
ass of the same
s Jeluan and the
a path to Salar-
1 broad and the
dies. From here
1 at 3f miles pass
sheep and goats,
tm and round the
.Hey to 5 J miles;
bably better than
, the ]>ath being
at 7 miles. From
■n drop abruptly
mprovement, to
ills and passing
s main Baghdad-
traversed at 6 j ►
miles as noted,
lace with water
Ascend stony slope behind Tang-i-Showan and
enter the pass by a broad track up the stream
Howing from it. The pass is 40 yards wide ; on
either side low stony hills run steeply down from
summits ^ mile apart. The road emerges into an inner valley and turns to the east up a
ravine with a stream of water. The hills rise steeply on either side, dotted with remains of
oak forest.
Ab-i-Merk or
11
23|
iSlAH CHAGA.
The path is now in parts narrow and bad, but at 2| miles the valley widens, the ravine
opens out and the slopes to either hand become more gentle. At 3f miles emerge into the
upland valley of Banasera with some cultivation and many springs, height 6,07u feet; and
at 4 miles reach at its head the open pass of Mil, height 7,000 feet.
The descent to 4| miles is in parts now very steep and dangerous towards the Mahidasht
plain ; the path then improves crossing stony bush-covered slopes to 5| miles. It then crosses
by easy gradients some gentle spurs to Adewar on the edge of the Mahidasht plain : here is
water, flocks of goats and sheep, and camp room, 6§ miles. Passing a large garden the path,
now a broad track, traverses stony slopes, joining at 7 miles the broad road running down from
the Aliawar pass.
From here cross the Mahidasht plain east-north-east by a broad and level road, occa
sionally interrupted by irrigation channels, reaching the Ab-i-Merk river at the small village
of fciah Chag£ at 11 miles. Elevation 5,000 feet.
Here is camp room and abundant water : large flocks of sheep ; the plain round is heavily
cultivated and south-east and south at distances from 2 to 4 miles are several large villages.
No fuel except cowdung available nearer than the Kurkur range.