"الطرق في بلاد فارس. القسم III" [ظ‎‎٤‎٩] (٧٣٩/١٠٣)

48
No. 2>o~~contd,
Birjand to Mashad, vid Kain and TurlaUi-Haidatu
No.
of
stage.
D istaitces
in milks.
E emaeks,
Names of stages.
Inter
mediate.
Total.
and Saghi and Husainabad on the right. Cul
tivation and fruit gardens ronnd the villages j
the mountain slopes generally afford good pastur
age for large herds of cattle.
At about iOth mile pass the small spring of
Gilangan, and then dip into the Sehdeh valley, a
wide platean extending some 25 to 30 miles east
and west. At Sehdeh there is a collection of three
villages, of which two are in rnins. Camp in an
open plain near village ; the water near camp is
brackish, but it is good from a Jcarez at village
itself. Village contains some 280 houses, and is
surrounded by fortified walls. A dozen villages
are within sight in the plain, and there is a good
deal of cultivation ; but few trees. About 3 miles
off is the walled village of Jafarabad, about 200
houses. All villages in neighbourhood are simi
larly fortified.
3
etjm
10
46
Route north over a low ridge, rough and stony.
Pass at about 8th mile, a shallow stream of good
water.
Rum is small, walled village of 80 houses, on
banks of a stream; water-supply abundant; a few
fruit gardens and corn-fields. Population scanty,
only about 30 families.
4
kain
20
j
66
Route north up the TCurn valley by a good road.
At 6th mile pass village of Birinjan and several
others, with considerable cultivation round them.
The villages are situated in the secluded hollows
on each side of the route, gradually ascending by
a general rise of the land. Reach at 10th mile
the watershed, 800' above Kurn. Descend by a
steep path, impracticable for guns, but easily
made passable, across the slope of the hill-side,
passing at about 3 miles further the villages of
amk and Kharwaj, the latter 750' below the
watershed, and containing about 120 houses, now,
however, deserted by all but 30 families, chiefly
Sayads. J
Town of Kain situated on eastern side of broad
vaUey stretching north and south at base of lofty
ill, called Abuzir, and said to be very ancient.
A ? ^^^.^dsome 10,000 houses, only
about 500 o± which are now occupied; the rest are
m ruins. I he valley surrounding town contains
so - e villages, which are well supplied
onn 1 7 kanats, and there are about
J00 villages in the whole district. Town itself