The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume X, No. 6 [‎97v] (47/186)

586
RECENT JOURNEYS IN PERSIA.
into the Geh river, whereas it is really a tributary of the Kaur-i-Binth.
Along its banks, as well as those of the Sirha river, there are
almost continuous lines of date groves. The Sirha pass, which lay
between us and Bampur, beggars description, and I am still surprised
that we got safely over it, as I should never have believed that laden
camels could climb up the cliffs they did without accident. My com
panion’s mare indeed fell, but luckily there was a deep pool below, so
no harm was done.
At Bampur we found that Pahra—the Pura of Arrian—was now
the seat of government, and so pushed on there, where we were received
by the Assad-i-Dowleh, who is a fitting ruler for such a wild race. He
was civil enough, thanks to the Farman Farma; but when we informed
him of our intention of touring in Sarhad, he tried to discourage us
by every means in his power. Having engaged camels with extreme
difficulty, we marched due east to Magas, where the kindest inquiries
were made after the late Sir Oliver St. John. We then turned north
into unexplored country, and, at the end of December, reached Khwash,
the capital of Sarhad. This word has been written and spelt in so
many different ways, that I would mention that it is the Sarhaddi
method of pronouncing “khosb,” meaning “sweet.”
We were now close to the giant range whose highest peak is the
great volcano of Taftan, or the “boiling,” locally known as Chehel
Tan, or the “ Mountain of the Forty Beings,” and as we were afraid
that snow might hinder our ascent, we marched up its valley, where
The following is the list of villages on the river Sirha from Ichan downwards :—
Kondel Mant, right bank.
Aband, left bank (opposite Deli
Mullah).
Deh Mullah, right bank.
Khushk, left bank.
Gurani, right bank.
Mirabad, left bank.
Shah Karpad, left bank.
Geladun, left bank.
Washkosh, right bank.
Bandan, „
Pothan (opposite Bandan), left bank.
Mokht, right bank.
Afzilabad, left bank.
Hudian, „
Thence 4 miles to Naokiuja, where 1 halted between Chahbar and Geh.
I crossed both of these streams at two places, some miles apart, to that I have
reason to believe in the accuracy of the above list.
* There are five streams which make up the Kaur-i-Binth, as the Fanoch river
is called below the pass. Beginning from the west—
1. The main stream, up which runs the road to Bamishk. Mirabad is the only
village of importance that we could see.
2. Kaur-i-Kantekon. This stream Rows almost due north to south.
3. Kam Kaur, with village of Kam just above Fanoch, and Haimini on an easterly
branch.
4. Kaur-i-Magen, with two hamlets, Magen and Band-i-Bengi, on its banks.
5. Kaur Espate. This stream flows in just below Fanoch, the hamlet of Espate
being some few miles up it.