'Persia 1888. From Rishir to Bunder Abbas.' [‎20r] (44/69)

23
ROUT ft No.
*— contd .
Distances.
Number and names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Rivers and
streams.
Remarks. 1
M. F.
M. F.
ravine, and commence the ascent of the pass called “ Tang-i Lizriar.” The rate now decreases
to 1 mile 6 furlongs per hour, and the direction changes from E. to N.E. The road ascends
the ravine for about furlongs, when it crosses a narrow torrent, water three feet deep,
bed rocky, flow westerly. It then passes up the dry bed, apparently, of a torrent between
low hills of gravelly limestone. After this the ascent continues over rocky ground, and is
fairly easy, open, and not steep. At 13 miles the ascent takes a zigzag course in a generally
N. by E- direction, till, at 13 miles 3 furlongs, we reach the summit of the pass, altitude
above ^ea, 4,969 feet.
The pass, called “ Gardeneh Khudu,” leading down the northern slope of the range
(locally named Kuh Boneshkatu), although not difficult for infantry and pack animals,
would be very much so, if not altogether impracticable, for field artillery and wheel trans
port. Steep, precipitous, and frequently perpendicular rocks, rise from the edge of the pass,
which is fairly steep, and in parts rugged and narrow. Haying descended Gardeneh Khudu,
at 15 miles we pass, near the foot of the range Boneshkatu, two cisterns full of good water,
and a few shepherds’ mat huts. This place is named, after the cisterns, “Haji Casim
Birkehd’ Altitude above sea, 3,903 feet.
Supplies ..
Water
Fuel
Grazing
Cultivation
Camping-grounds
Nil
Good and plentiful from tanks.
Scanty.
Poor.
Nik
Good.
The road, which is scarcely, if at all, traceable, after crossing a dry nullah with stony
bed and sloping banks, passes down a gravelly slope, of about 3°, covered with thin grass.
The ground, at first, is very stony, and strewn with huge stones. On advancing 1 mile
5 furlongs the valley increases in width from 800 yards to one mile, the track running
about midway. The road now passes frequently many cisterns, and, at 16 miles 6 fur
longs, enters the outskirts of the town of Avaz, which we traverse for 5'3 furlongs, and
at 17 miles 3‘7 furlongs, arrive at its eastern outskirts.
Avaz is an open town with clean broad streets, bordered on either side by small, but
well built houses of stone or sun-dried bricks, neatly plastered with mud or lime. There
are several large and commodious houses, and many shops, some of which are conducted by
Muhammadan traders from Bombay. Inhabitants, roughly estimated, about 3,000.
Supplies ... Considerable.
Water ... Good and plentiful from cisterns.
Fuel ... Scanty.
Grazing ... Poor.
Cultivation ... Little.
Camping-grounds Good.
The dry bed of a large water-course, apparently, issues from a gorge in the cliffs, which
bound the north side of the Avaz valley, and flows to eastward at the foot of these cliffs.
21. Gieash ... 11—4*2 287~4‘8 ... Leave Avaz. General direction
S. E. g E. The road traverses
generally the centre of . a valley
about a mile broad, covered with
thin grass and a scanty furze. The ground consists of a stony gravel, and slopes to north.
At miles we cross the dry bed of a nullah, flow to north. At 3 miles 2 furlongs the road
passes a small white musjid on the top of a low mound close to the south side of the road,
and within another 100 yards two good cisterns, one on either side. Two hundred and
fifty yards further on we cross the dry stony bed of a nullah, flow to N. At 4 miles
there is an abrupt rise of about 15 feet in the level of the valley, which rise the road
ascends by a sharp slope. Another half mile and the road ascends a similar slope,
resulting also from a change of about 15 feet in the general level. We are now approaching