'Report on Sistan and the Country Between It and Mashad' [‎49r] (102/118)

From Karez to Karat through Hashtadan, 24 miles, the road is o-ood
but very few villages are met with, Taiabad at the 6 th mile being the only
one on the road. Karat is a small, but well preserved and fortified village
containing 20 houses. From Karat to Fundukht, 70 miles, pass over the
,, - “ le Kui rca(1 through a narrow stony gorge for half an hour, pass
able for all arms ; then through Sangun (400 houses), and on 17 miles to
Aluznabad; thence over a nearly level plain to the foot of the Ahingeran
and up a gradual slope to Fundukht. From Fundukht the road goes along
the eastern slopes of the range as far as the village of Ahingeran. Thence
through the pass of Amrutak and along the western slopes of the range
pasu (jazik to Tabas, about 90 miles. miles beyond Ahingeran the road
over the pass would need a little work before guns could pass, but altogether
the road is not difficult. ^
Between Ahingeran and Gazik, 34| miles, there is only one wretched
necessiry to go to hamlet with water, but containing no supplies.
* It is not
Duruk At the foot of the
Godar-i-Mashad on the south
side, 11 miles from Huseinabad,
is a natural reservoir called Chah-
i-Bannah, 8 feet to 10 feet deep
by 5 feet diameter; good water ;
no village.
From Chah-i-Bannah to Chazir
(spring), 20 miles, and Khwaja,
4 miles further.
(bellevy and native informa
tion).
Gazik and Tabas are both larg'e and flourish
ing villages. From Tabas to Huseinabad, not
in Route Book, but measures 23j miles on the
map, and is called 7 farsakhs by the natives,
probably passable for all arms. Huseinabad
has a iort, and contains 200 houses and a karez
of briny water (Bellew). From Huseinabad
to Duruh,* 27 miles over the Godari JMesham
pass, 950 feet above Dumb. The path here
would require some preparation for the passage
of guns. Duruh is a flourishing village of 300 houses (Beliew).
From Dumb to Khwaja 26 miles,t Guishe 10 miles,* Bandun 24 milesf
+ Map measurements intermediate. At Khwaja there is no village,
f P * but wells with good water. At Guisha are wells
of bitter water ; no village. The road is probably level (native information).
Bandun to Nasirabad as before, 56 miles. Total distance from Meshed*
482$ miles. *
2 a. From Mashad to Duruh as in ( 2 ), 366i miles; Duruh to Nasirabad,
163 miles (Bellew). Between Duruh and Chah-i-Sagak, 28 miles, the road is’
bad and hilly, but presumably passable for all arms. At Chah-i-Sagak enter
Afghan territory. Here is a shallow well of putrid, brackish water ; no villao-e.
Thence to Harut Bud, 24 miles, passing a well of dirty water en route’zt
Chah-i-Damdan. At Harut Rud water is obtained by digging in the river bed
when dry; no village. Thence to Kalah Kah, 15 miles, where are several vil
lages. Thence to Lash, 37 miles, over the same desolate waste, passing to village
of Panjdeh at the 3lst mile* From Lash to Nasirabad, 53 miles, past Khair-
abad, and through the Naizar over 30 miles of uninhabited country.
Total distance from Mashad, o29\ miles.
This route appears to have nothing to recommend it except that, when
the country is in flood, the breadth of the swamp is probably less here than via
Barang.
21. From Mashad yid Faraiman [vide 2) to Shahr-i-NaoJ over the
t MacGregor, Route Minar pass, 901 miles. The pass could easily be made
Book, ho. 250. practicable for artillery, and the defile affords a very
strong defensive position. There is excellent pasture all down the valley