‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎228v] (455/949)

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Proceed south-west near the river bank over alluvial cultivated plain to
4f miles: villages are frequent. The road then turns south, at 8 miles
the river is 1J miles to the west and from that point flows west towards
Fellahieh.
At 10 miles a bare plain of salt soil is entered which as mashur is ap
proached contains patches of grass and large flocks of sheep. Mashur is
reached at 16 miles.
Koad throughout good and passable to all arms. Forage scarce, and
scanty fuel of scrub on the plain. Water from the river to the 8th mile*
Cultivation, after winter of sufficient rain, near the villages, flocks throughout
except from 10 th to 14 th miles.
The road from Mashur to the sea goes south across a bare plain of salt soil,
and at one mile crosses the drainage of the desert to the Mashur Creek which
would be a very difficult after rain, the right bank of this stream is followed,
at 1^ miles is the point to which small boats ascend in ordinary tides, at 21-
miles that at which sea going buggalows discharge cargo.
The first mile of the road from Mashur is swampy in winter and almost
impassable after rain : it then becomes sandy and somewhat firmer, but is said
to be very deep in w T et weather.
At the point where ships discharge cargo is a firm patch of sand and the
creek here turns south-south-west towards the anchorage at the junction of the
Khor Dorak.
At this point the width of water at ordinary low tide is 15 feet and depth
about 3 feet, the banks are of shelving mud and the water at high tide some
50 feet wide, to facilitate landing from boats or buggalows a pier of 20 yards
would be necessary so as to reach the middle of the patch of firm sand, the
road from there to Mashur would in wet weather require to be built with
brushwood, faggots, etc.: these could be procured from the Jerrahi River :
the stream crossed at one mile south of Mashur would have to be traversed by
a made causeway of 15 yards in length.
So far as I could learn there is no nearer approach than the point above
described to the anchorage near the mouth of Khor Dorak. Animals cannot
approach the sea in that direction, a man can go on foot, with difficulty, alon»
the creek towards the sea, the soil is of a Kavir description and renders the
going very heavy after rain.
As regards the road to Ram Hormuz—it is largely used by caravans which
appear to ply mostly during the summer and autumn after the wheat and rice
has been harvested : there does not appear to be much traffic at other times of
the year.
The heat from June to September inclusive would make military opera
tions almost impracticable. But for the rest of the year, provided the diffi
culties of landing can be negotiated, this route would be far the most suitable
for an advance on the Bakhtiari mountains.
The amount of fodder available would depend entirely on the amount of
rain in the preceding winter, after good winter rain great quantities of bhusa
are available at every village and large areas of wheet standing from Febru
ary to May.
Either bank of the Jerrahi River can be followed, the fords at Halfabad
are practicable for laden animals for the greater part of the year except after
recent rain.
In winter the river should, if the Halfabad fords are impracticable be
crossed near Maksar at which point boats from Bazia and Fellahieh could be
collected. They are of all sizes up to IO'xG' and drawing up to 3 feet of
water. .
The jerrahi is said to be fordable at numerous points throughout the
summer. From Halfabad downwards it presents the appearance of a winding
canal.
E. B. BURTON.
Mohammerah ;
Tkc 14th February 1904.