'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia: About 1889-1890' [‎453v] (926/1486)

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through the “ Inner range ” and several lesser ranges parallel to
it for 50 miles, then bending sharply again it flows north-west
towards Shuster for another 100 miles in exactly the opposite
direction to its first too miles. From Shuster to the Kuh-i-Rang
in a direct line is miles, to reach which the river flows 2^0
miles, with an aggregate fall of 9,000 feet or ^ It is probably
the most winding stream in the world.
The Kurang has in the Bakhtiari country three important
tributaries running parallel to the parent stream, and no more than
from 15 to 20 miles from it On the southern slope of the Inner
range flows the Ab-i-Bazuft in a perfectly straight course for
100 miles. It is like the Upper Kurang, a magnificent stream with
a kind of green-blue water (due to the chalk it contains) flowing
ever full in deep set banks through a long well-wooded valley. It
is fed by many mountain side rock springs of fresh water, as also
by several large springs and streams of pure salt water ; so salt
that the neighbouring trees and vegetation, though green, are en
crusted witha white saline deposit. In the centre of its course lies
the Killa Bazuft, a ruined square serai fort, of ancient reputation.
The next tributary in importance is what may be called for
want of any general name the Ab-i-Chighakhor, as peculiar for its
winding as the Bazuit stream is exceptional for its straightness.
As the name indicates, this tributary commences as the outflow of
the Chighakhor basin, and on a smaller scale imitates the course
of the Kurang as above described. From the Chighakhor lake to
where it joins the Kurang is 20 miles; the stream makes 90 of it.
J his stream may be said to be the boundary of the Bakhtiari
country to the south-east, laving as it does the outer slopes of the
Kuh-i-Kaller and Sabz-Kuh.
Enclosed by these hills is a straight, smaller but important
tributary flowing between them. It is important as watering parts
of the country which are in summer thickly populated by some of
the best of the Bakhtiari tribes.
Th e next tributary of importance is the water system bearing
. ^ er ^ nt r F ame ®) which unitedly forces its way through a narrow
rift, the 1 ang-i-Darkash Warkash, 4 miles above Ardal. Through
this Tangi and under the bridge at its mouth flows a drainage of
2,500 square miles (Photo No. 9). This water system is the main-
run an AT li C ^ se . t ^ e . fertility of three of the districts of the
Lhhar Mahals (Four districts) now politically a portion of the Bakh-
lan country though geographically only so as an outlying part.
I he short valley which the Darkash Warkash makes across the
main Kaj valley is, in consequence of its many advantages (water
and shelter from winter winds), deemed one of the fairest spots in
the Bakhtiari country and hence called Bihishtabad (Mansion