Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume VIII, No. 5 [‎51v] (105/154)

504
FROM TEHERAN TOWARDS THE CASPIAN.
and almost at the summit of a range of mountains fronting us, we managed, after a
hard and hot climb, to reach the door of the manager’s hut, a grimy one-roomed
abode, having on one side of its walls prints of a religious character, and on another
guns, rifles, and game-bags. Zakhary, the owner, we found a remarkable man in
his way. He is a Chaldean Roman Catholic from the neighbourhood of Urumia
(or Urmi), and thus a subject of the Shah, and he spoke in raptures of his native
country. Grizzled hair, a calm handsome face, and beautiful teeth made up a
countenance not soon forgotten. Above all, his cheerfulness and contentment with
his lot most favourably impressed us. He has one fellow-Catholic with him, whose
children welcomed us in Chaldean. Zakhary himself, whose own belongings were
shortly to join him, spoke excellent French. He has twenty Turks, from the
neighbourhood of Tabriz, employed on the works, the Persians refusing to labour
underground. The miners are paid 5 krans for 650lbs. (a Persian measure known
as kharwar),* and can earn up to that sum (or about two shillings) a day. Zakhary
has to procure rice, dried fruit, with bread stuff for their consumption, and sells them
these articles at cost price, plus carriage. Three mules, to fetch provisions, are pro
vided by the gas company, and these carry broken tools to the city for repairs,
making up their loads with coal.
There is a forge at the mine, and hutting for the miners; also an iron-roofed
store to protect the coal “got” in the winter from the action of snow and rain.
From Zakhary’s account, the climate at the mines, which are situated on the
southern slope of a range running east and west, is most salubrious. It is only in
March and April that rain and mists are annoying. In summer it is not hot, and
in winter the snow does not lie for any length of time. Our informant only quits
his home twice a year, to attend the festivals of Christmas and Easter respectively
in Teheran.
South of the manager’s hut is seen a rocky ridge, said to harbour leopards. On
the mountains behind the mines are pastures for moufflon, and wild rhubarb
abounds. To the east there is a glorious view of Demavend towering into
the sky.
The quality of the coal did not impress us much, for it “ comes out” as dust;
but for the production of gas, in which it is said to be very rich, this does not
greatly matter. It is found in sandstone, and it seems likely that it only exists
in pockets, i.e. is the remains of lacustrine deposits. The seams are vertical, i.e.
have a “ dip ” of 90°. They vary from 1 foot to 5 feet in thickness. The “ strike ”
seems to be east and west. One working into which we went was pronounced
unsafe, and nothing was going on there, pending the arrival of timbering from
Mazanderan. This gallery ran horizontally in from the face of the hill, and
wound about, following the seam or pocket. The whole of the roof was coal, and
in one place a shaft had been sunk to get at the coal below; this was now full
of water.
Zakhary had ingeniously arranged a syphon for the emptying of this shaft.
One of our servants nearly fell into it, having followed us along the working
without a light; in fact, but for our timely return, to find him on the brink of the
shaft, he must have been lost. Two men lost their lives owing to the falling of
the roof at the mouth of a working last year—otherwise there have been no
accidents. There is said to be no fire-damp, but as no working has yet been pushed
more than a hundred yards into the hill, it is possible it may yet be met with.
Zakhary went to Europe to learn printing, and then took to brewing—not a
* Wollaston gives tlvs at 725 lbs ; perhaps 625 to 675 lbs., of which 650 is the mean,
is more strictly correct.