'Appendix to Routes in Persia. Section II' [‎39r] (77/86)

61
Route No. 25— concld.
Dehbala to Dizfui—coxic\&.
.
Distances, ik
MILES.
No. of
stage.
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Rcmkbxs,
First Section.
From Delibala to Kalata the road traverses the intricate hills lying between the wall-
like range of the Kabar Kuh and the Tigris nlain ; waler is abundant and forage plentiful
throughout the year, the grass being especially luxuriant m the spring and early summer; as
far the 3rd stage. Khushkadul, wood is plentiful adjacent to the road; from there to
Kalaia fuel is procurable only from the mountains, generally some miles distant.
The crops of wheat and barley are green m April and ripen during May to July accord-
ing to elevation. From Arkawaz to the Mema river cultivated lands are adjacent to the road.
The autumn crop of Indian corn is scanty and insufficient for the supply of a fc ice of any
From April to October vast numbers of sheep and goats and some cattle are pastured ;
in the earlier months on the lower levels near the read, in the autumn receding to the remoter
Vall Tit a tlerain^ r ilsaftmThe month of May, but from November during the winter up to
that month showers are heavy and frequent. . , , ... . , ,,
From November to March the country is mainly deserted, the tribes migrating to the
^ Tlfe roa <l is in parts very narrow and steep, but owing to the calcareous nature of the
ground and the quantity of gypsum in the hills mules obtain a good footh Id.
From the above facts it follows that this part of the road is most easily traversed from
March to June inclusive: then is forage most abundant, the crops standing or just reaped
and the tribes with their flocks and herds camped adjacent to the tracts traversed by the
^ During the autumn forage is less plentiful and the tribes move to the icmoter valleys.
Second Section,
The Tigris plain from Kalata to the Karkhah river is practicable for troops only from
October to March, being almost deserted during the rest of the year. In October the tribes
of I’usht-i-Kuh descend from the mountains, bringing with them large flocks and herds ;
the Indian corn is then ripe and the desert always provides a certain quantity of grass. In
February, the approach of spring provides the most luxuriant herbage which dries with
the first heats of March and April, during which months the tribes, migrate to the hill
country. , , . j.
From June to September the heat is very great. 3 ,, ,
Water is procurable throughout except in the trac„ between the Jik and Karkhah
rivers : it is, however, frequently impregnated with salts and sulphur.
The road traverses an almost level plain and is practicable for all arms on any breadth
° f ^Tt^is apparent therefore that this route is traversable by troops in winter and spring
only: and in the winter the direct road from Kalata to Dehbala should not be attempted
but the level road to Zorbatiya followed.
In no case should infantry endeavour to follow this route till arrangements for supplies
be made with the tribes and the Wali of Pusht-i Kuh j or if unaccompanied by cavalry,
whose services would be absolutely necessary for foraging.
The passage of the Karkhah river from November to May would require special
arrangMoents if the fords were impracticable. Sk.lled 1^1 gujdea am aWately
.ary for the passage of the river at any season. (See Karkhah river and Wall of
Pusht-i-Kuh in Gazetteer.)