"الطرق في بلاد فارس. (المجلد I.) (خراسان وسيستان.)" [و‎‎٨‎٤] (٥٣٦/١٧٢)

Route No. VI— contd.
winding between rocky hills. At 18 miles the tea-house known
as Qara Sughar. Leave the tea-house on the left and go down
behind the hill. Here there is a small stream of good water
and a large pond. For the next 2 miles the road is sandy
and heavy. Streams are crossed at 20 and 21 miles. At 22
miles the walled village of Ibrahimabad. Gentle ascent to
plain. Maiamai is a walled village, with houses, shops, serai,
and post-house outside the walls. On the WN. and E. there
are open fileds, on the S. enclosed gardens and vineyards.
Water .—Good supply from a stream.
Fuel. —Brushwood, wood and vines.
Fodder .—Good grazing beyond the radius of cultivation.
Supplies. —Good. About 3,000 sheep and goats. 100
cattle. 10 mules, 10 horses, 50 donkeys and about 10 camels
available. '
12 SHAHRUD .. 42 m. Road good through-
out. Mostly desert.
306 No water on the
road from the 4th to the 34th mile. General direction W.
Over a plain to the Ab-i-Marjam at 4 miles. Good stream of
water. The plain is dotted with small Turkoman refuge towers.
After rain the road is heavy in places. At 10 miles cross the
neck of a line of hills, ascending by an easy gradient. Des
cending, a torrent bed is crossed at 16 miles. At 18 miles
Farshabad, also known as Rahmatabad. Water is brought in
casks from a qanat 3 miles distant; fuel and grazing abundant;
supplies, nil. Easy, undulating road. At 22 miles Hauz-i-
Milan. Water in an ab-ambar. It is, however, so bad that
animals will not drink it in summer and autumn, but after
heavy rain it is somewhat better, though muddy. At 34 miles
Khairabad, a walled village with a few houses. Water, from
2 small streams ; fuel and grazing poor; supplies, scarce. At
36 miles there is a small masonry bridge spanning a stream.
Traffic generally fords the stream. Just reaching the village
of Bidasht at 38 miles another stream is crossed by a stout
tree-trunk bridge. At 39 miles the caravan and wagon roads
bifurcate, the latter running through the town of Shahrud,
the former passing to S. through narrow and tortuous, lanes
dull of holes.