"دليل بلاد فارس. مجلد III." [و‎‎٢‎٨‎٩] (٩٨٢/٥٨٢)

of snow usually take place about the end of November, and the thaw
usually set in February. The higher hills are snow clad until March or April,
while the crevasses and ravines of the loftier peaks contain snow and ice all
the year round, and supply the city with large quantities during the summer
months. During the month of June, the hot weather sets in at Yazd. At
this season a large number of the inhabitants leave the city and come up to
Kuhistan, where they have gardens and summer houses. Towards the end of
September, when the weather becomes cooler, they return to the city.
Produce and supplies, etc.—KW the suppl es of Yazd, such as sheep,
fruit, vegetables, firewood and grass come from these hills; and also the
chief water-supply is led from here by qandts.
The following are among the products of Kuhistan :—
Fruits. Mulberries, white and black, apples, cherries, melons, plums,
walnuts, filberts, apricots, greengages, peaches, quinces and grapes.
Vegetables.^ Potatoes, cabbages, spinach, lettuces, cucumbers, beetroot,
radishes, onions and celery.
Besides fruit trees there are an abundance of others, chief amongst ufhich
are the poplar and the willow. On the hills every sort of shrub is found ;
while the asafoetida plant provides a lucrative employment to the
inhabitants, who collect the juice which is exported in great quantities
to Bombay. Many of the villages and towns contain numerous silk-worms,
and in others such as »Sanij, one cannot walk a few paces without stumbling
over a beehive ; for in this country, with the usual disregard for the safety
and convenience of the general public, the hives are all placed on the
ground.
Minerals. There are no mines working in the hills, but there are some
caves near Taft which are partially artificial, and there are traces of copper
ore in places. In thePalangan hills near NarakI, there are marble rocks
and traces of iron ore in places. Antimony is found in the Kuh Ardarushk,
pieces having been picked up on the surface by shepherds; crystals are found
in the hills west of Masheh, and there are some celebrated marble mines at
Turum Pusht.
Game. The wild sheep, ibex, antelope, leopard, hyaena, wolf, jackal, fox,
grey partridge, qua 1, pigeon, and sandgrouse abound, and the imperial
sandgrouse and hare are found on the plateau. Game however is very wild
being much shot at.
.—-There are large streams flowing down from the Deh Bala. Tizar-
jan, Bavanat and Masheh valleys, but such is the dryness of the soil that
they totally disappear on the plain west of Sar-i-Yazd. There is sufficient
water flowing from the eastern slopes of Kuhistan to form a rapid river,
^0 yards broad and 3 feet deep. The streams flowing from the western
slopes of the hills are smaller, but contain an ample supply of water .
and the soil also on the plateau to the west appears to contain more water,
as springs appear oozing out of the ground in all directions, and wells
reach water at a few feet below the surface. The stream at Kal Bal Biz
above Mehriz contains numerous fish, as also do some of those near the
city, where the fish run to 2 lbs. in weight.
Topography —-The chief and largest towns in Kflhistan are Taft,
Nasirabad Ahabad, Nil, Sanlj, Deh Bala, Tizarjan, Gasheh and
Masbeh.—( Vaughan. 1890.)