'Persia 1888. From Rishir to Bunder Abbas.' [‎14v] (33/69)

16
ROUTE No. —could.
Number and names of stages
Distances.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
M. F.
M. F.
Rivers and
streams.
Remarks.
Passing the town of Gillehdav we recross the valley in a north-east by east direction,
by a broad road, over clayey stoneless ground, with a gentle
Stream Kana. downward slope to stage. The road traverses frequent tracts
of wheat and btrley, alternating with expanses ot good grass and furze, and at 9 miles 6
furlongs crosses the stream Kana, a mere ditch with a bed about 10.feet wide, in which is a
stagnant pool of brackish water. At 10 miles 6 furlongs the village of Behristan, also
called “ Mokhdan,” situated directly at the foot of the range Kuh Zalemi. Altitude above
sea, *2 116 feet. The village, on the east side of which is a large grove of date trees, consists
of about 50 houses, some of stone, and others of mats. To the south of the village, distant
about one quarter of a mile, is a small limestone hill, outlying and solitary, all the sides
of which are very precipitous.
Inhabitants, about 200.
Supplies
Water
Fuel
Cultivation
Grazing
Camping-grounds...
14. Wardawan
Vnry limited.
Good and plentiful.
Moderate, from tamarisk and kanar bush.
Little, except dates.
Very good.
Good.
14—5
192-7
Leave Behristan. General direc
tion E. by N. | N., and skirt the
foot of the range Zalemi, at a
distance of about 150 yards. On
the north side of the road is a grove of date trees, which continues for a quarter of a mile,
then a little grass-land, and. for another quarter of a mile, we pass through a tract of wheat
and barley. For the next half a mile, date trees, scattered kanar bush, and large tamarisk trees
border either side of the road. At 1 mile 3 furlongs the ground, covered with grass and
dotted thickly with kanar bush, becomes very stony, and slopes gently upwards. At 1
mile 6 furlongs a dry nullah, sloping to the south-west, appears on the north side, and runs,
for furlongs, parallel to the road, which then enters the bed of the nullah, about 59 feet
wide. The road now winds round the hill, and, at 2 n.iles 1 furlong, enters the mouth of a
gorge or defile, which here cuts the range of Zalemi in twain. The rate of travel ing decreases
to 2 miles 2*5 furlongs per hour. The mouth o'f the pass is about J mile broad, but, as we
ascend in a direction north by east, decreases to about 20 or 30 yards, the hills on either side
sloping up very precipitously, or in cliff-like sections The defile slopes gently upwards, and
presents no difficulty, till, at 4 miles 3 furlongs, it is barred by an abrupt rise of about 60 feet in
100 yards, giving a slope of about 30°. On surmounting this slope we find a small level space,
covered with good grass, from which we can see down the gorge for some distance. At this
point the rate decreases to 1 mile 6 furlongs per hour, and the pass becomes more difficult and
rugged, and continues, for 6 furlongs, to rise by alternate ascents and descents. At 5 miles,
looking southward down the pass, a portion of the valley and the range of Haftchah is visible
between the precipitous sides of the gorge. Two furlongs further up this vista is again
afforded us. The pass, now, becomes very steep and difficult, between huge jagged rocks,
so close together as hardly to afford room for loaded mules to pass. On nearing the
summit of the pass called “ Gardeneh Zalemi,” we ascend over smooth rocky strata, sloping
gently upwards, and pass an uncovered and empty cistern close to to the east side of the
road. At 5 miles 4 furlongs, the summit of Gardeneh Zalemi. Altitude above sea, 4,430 feet.
From this point, also, a portion of the valk.y to south is visible between the walls of the
gorge. To northward we have an uninterrupted view down the northern slope of the range
Zalemi, and across the valley lying at its foot. The pass, called “ Zargozadun,” down the
northern side of the range, for a short distance winds round the brink of a deep crevasse or
chasm, which splits this slope of the range almost from top to bottom. The path is both
narrow and steep, at times just leaving sufficient room for loaded mules to pass. At 6 miles
5 furlongs (1 hour 38 minutes occupied in the descent) we reach the foot of the pass.