‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎420v] (839/949)

Abbas, the road is, at present, impassable for wheeled traffic, but a road could
be made without much difficulty. From the Dahana-i-lang-i-Zindan, the
mouth of the pass, till the table land is reached, half way between bir-i-Sikh
and Aihemedi, a matter of some 40 miles, there is absolutely no road, the way
lying along the beds of torrents full of tumbled boulders and over a very
steepness. The Tang itself is a very dangerous spot m rainy weather. Hoods
come down with fearful force and suddenness and kafilas are frequently
caught and destroyed in what has been well named the jS anow ruson. Once
the table land is reached, one could almost drive a motor car tor over a
thousand miles, whilst the Indian bullock cart would find working over the
whole of the upland country an easy matter. Between Ailiemedi and
Saiidahad there is only one difficult pass, the lang-i-Deh-Sheikh. This pass
could, however, be avoided by going round through the open valley, whilst
the building of an embankment would protect this road against floods where
it crosses the sw r amp.
Had we had an Engineer with us, we would have been able to furnish much
more valuable information regarding routes and the possibility of load buildings
than we now 7 can. Wo have felt the want of such an ollicei seiiously.
No work has been possible yesterday or to-day, as, owing to testival, all
shops are closed.
[Enclosure A ).
Bunder Abbas to Baghu. —14 miles, sandy track, date grove, and a few
huts at Baghu. Water plentiful, but salt; supplies available in fair quantity.
Baghu to Ziarat.—22 miles, track over boulder strewn slopes and river
beds; small village and a tomb. Water plentiful but very salt. Good water
available from well 6 miles away. Bate groves and some cultivaiton. Supplies
good at Ziarat.
Ziarat to Kushku. —14 miles. Here supplies are taken by caravans for the
three days’ tracks through the uninhabited region lying between Kushku and
Aihemedi road over stone strewn slopes. Cultivation more extensive. Many
date groves. Water still bad.
Kushku to Dahana-i-Tang. —]5 miles. Boad getting worse, lying first east
along the slopes of the foot hills, then turning north and vrest up the river-bed.
Water in river salt. One small spring of fairish water at the camping place.
No supplies.
Dahana to Sir-i-Sikh. —24 miles. Along the main ravine west and north
west for 10 miles, then turning north up a narrower tang, difficult for mules
and horses, impossible for guns, and over the crest of the pass, 3,800 feet, the
last part of the road lying along a ledge till it gains and then crosses the brow.
At camping place w^ater scanty and bad; no supplies.
Sir-i-Sikh to Aihemedi. —25 miles. The track drops down the ravine
from the watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. till it again enters the Tang-i-Zindan, going west by north
for six miles, then corkscrews up north till the table land is gained at an
elevation of 3,000 feet. Hoad to Aihemedi and onw r ard mere track, but lying
over fairly level and fairly clear land. A few bad places where river-beds and
ravine heads are crossed. The passes mostly low and easy. At Aihemedi
water of a slightly brackish quality and supplies plentiful. Extensive date
plantations, vegetable, and flowers also raised. Good sheep, fowls, and eggs.
Aihemedi to Nisa. 25 miles. Road still fair, leading generally north-west
through an easy and wide pass. Lardh-i-Aihemedi, or “ the open place of
Aihemedi , over a watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. , 3,900 teet high in the middle of a very wide
p ain ringed by hills, whence four considerable ravine systems—one running
south-east, one east, one north and one west—have their rise to Nisa. This
place is only approximately marked on the map, and the road from Aihemedi
to bultanabad, near Dasht-i-Bar, has not been properlv surveyed. Mr. Rvan
made a route sketch and measured the road, and from this the track, as marked
on the map, will be corrected. At Nisa the water is not good, though plentiful.
Supplies scanty. A fort and a village of 10 houses, with a small date grove
and many acres of camel thorn. Elevation 3,300 feet.