'Additions to Gazetteer of Persia, Volumes II to IV.' [‎23r] (45/370)

13
—conld,
Zalemi. 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 pre
cipitous.
‘Inhabitants about 200.
Supplies ... Very limited.
Water ... Good and plentiful.
Fuel ... Moderate, from tamarisk and kanar bush.
Cultivation ... Little, except dates.
Grazing ... Very good.
Camping-grounds... Good. (Butcher, 1888).
MOKHDAN—See Behristan, page 09, Vol. IV, page 286.
GARDAN-I-ZALEMI—Elev. 4,430 / , \ol. IV, page 132.
Name of a gorge or defile which cuts the Kuh Zalemi about 2£ miles E.
of Behristan. The mouth of the pass is about £ 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 2 miles
2 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 pass becomes more difficult and
rugged, and continues, for 6 furlongs, to rise by alternate ascents and
descents. At 2 miles, 7 furlongs, looking southward down the pass, a por
tion of the valley and the range of Haftcha is visible between the precipi
tous 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 we ascend over smooth rocky strata,
sloping gently upwards, and pass an uncovered and empty cistern close to
the east side of the road. At 3 miles 3 furlongs, is the summit. From this
point, also, a portion of the valley to the 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 bot h
narrow and steep, at times just leaving sufficient room for loaded mules to
pass. At 4 miles, 4 furlongs (1 hour 38 minutes occupied in the descent)