'Persia 1888. From Rishir to Bunder Abbas.' [‎24r] (52/69)

29
ROUTE No. — contd.
Distances.
Number and names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
Rivers and
streams.
Remarks.
M. F.
M. F.
about 80 yards broad. The ordinary rate of travelling is now resumed. From this point
to stage the road very frequently crosses shallow rivulets of salt water, which, however, offer
no difficulty whatever. We are now clear of the defile, and the road, trending S. S. E.,
crosses for 5 furlongs an open and fairly level space, a mile or so in diameter, surrounded by
low hills. This place is named “ Derahi.” We then pass over level ground between detached
hills or mounds from 30 to 100 feet high, the tops of which are level like tables. Beyond
these are low ranges of hills distant to east about 50 yards, and to west about a mile. At 8
miles 6 furlongs the road is crossing small mounds of earth for over a hundred yards,
then level spaces between small mounds or hills, the latter, at times, opening out or dis
appearing, leaving an open space to the low ranges on the east and west. At 9 miles 6 fur
longs we cross the dry bed of a shallow water-course containing pools of salt water, varying
from 100 to 200 yards in width, flow westerly. The road then, passing along its south-west
bank for half a mile, enters among low dried up mud hills. These continue for about 1$
furlongs, when we cross a level open space, and, at 10 miles 5 furlongs, ascend a short and
slight slope, and pass between a chaos of dried mud hillocks. The hillocks rise directly
from the "side of the road, which is not, in places, more than 6 to 10 feet broad. It
might, however, be easily widened. At 11 miles 3 furlongs the defile, bordered by barren, bare
hills of dried mud and gravel, has opened out, and varies from 1<)0 to 200 yards in breadth.
The ground at times gravelly and stony, at other times earthy, is bare of vegetation save
for some scattered furze. Two furlongs in advance the road passes the old, and rather dela-
pidated caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). of Bastu-Komaku. At 12 miles 6 furlongs, we strike the river Hajamal,
salt water running, a few inches deep, and 30 to 40 feet broad, bed varying in width from 150
to 200 yards. The basin is shallow, and banks generally shelving. The road now enters a defile
called Tang-i Shuk, about 200 yards broad. The ground is of a stony gravel, with small furze
and occasional kanar bush, but devoid of grass. The river Hajamal, distant about 40 yards
from the south side of the road runs at the bottom of a sandstone cliff 120 feet in height.
The north side of the defile is bordered by gravel hills 60 to 100 feet high, sloping up at an
angle of 20° to 30°. At 13 miles 7 furlongs we pass Sartang caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). , and two
cisterns, the latter being full of good water. Altitude above sea, 1144 feet. There is a grove
of date trees about a quarter of a mile to N. E. of the caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). , also a rivulet of
water, the banks of which are overgrown with tamarisk jungle : a short distance to the
eastward the ground rises in steep and precipitous hills.
Supplies
Water
Fuel
Cultivation
Grazing-
Nil.
Good.
Moderate, from tamarisk jungle and date trees,
Nil.
Fair.
Camping-ground... Good.
“ Shur,” water very sha
River Haja- The road then runs south
mal or Shur east, and at one furlong from
(water salt). the caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). crosses the river
Hajamal, which is here called
depth. At 14 miles 2 furlongs the
low, a few inches only in _
road, which is the bed of the river Shur, enters the pass called “ Tang-i Dalan, at this
point 60 to 70 yards broad, with perpendicular cliffs on either hand. The breadth of
the pass never much exceeds this, and is simply the bed of the river Shur, over which
meanders a small stream of salt water. The hills on either side of the Tang are rocky, and
either slope up very steeply, or rise in lofty precipices. When one side slopes, the other is
perpendicular. The slopes on the eastern side are generally practicable for infantry and
mule batteries. The surface of the pass, or river-bed, presents a smooth, firm surface of white
*and. After traversing the pass for one mile, the total breadth of the gorge is only 30