'Military Report on Russian Turkistan or Central Asia' [‎26r] (56/168)

(19.) From Karshi tlie following routes lead in a
southerly direction :—
(r/,) r I'o Kerki = 87 miles, across desert
country.
(/>.) To Kilif (via Karkijak) 117 miles
hut little is known of this route, which
runs across desert—there is probably a
dearth of water ; or via Khuzar and Kugi-
tan, 129 miles, tit for pack transport only;
or via Khuzar, Darband, and Shirabad.
197 miles, fit for carts, but passes through
the defile mentioned below (e).
(c.) To Chushka Guzar via Khuzar,
Akrabat, Darband, and Shirabad, a distance
of 178 miles. Generally speaking, lit for
wheeled trafhc, but near Akrabat passes
through the famous “ Iron Gate ” defile,
a mile long and in places only a few r paces
wide. During the winter months the
stream renders this detile impassable.
(r/.) To Termez ferry, via Darband and
Shirabad, a distance of 194 miles. Mostly
fit for wheels, and though difficult in parts,
is capable of improvement. This route
passes through the “ Iron Gate ” detile
just mentioned above (e).
(20.) From Samarkand to Chushka Guzar or to
Termez (ferries), via Jam, Chirakchi, Yartube,
The total distances by routes (15)-(19) inclusive, are as
follows :—
Miles.
196
- 226-238
180
- 210-222
271
180
187
- 217-229
278
294
Bokhara, Karshi, Kerki
„ „ Kilif
Kermineh, Karshi, Kerki
„ „ Kilif
„ „ Chushka Guzar
Kata Kurgan, Karshi, Kerki
Samarkand, Karshi, Kerki
„ * ,, Kilif
,, „ Chushka Guzar
„ ,. Termez (ferry)