"الطرق في بلاد فارس. (المجلد I.) (خراسان وسيستان.)" [ظ‎‎١‎١‎٩] (٥٣٦/٢٤٣)

230
Route No. 2— contd.
ous bushes and a little grass about. At 3i miles a track comes
in from'the right rear from the valley in that direction. Cross
over an open rounded slope connecting the hills on the left
and right, and descend between two chains of hills. At 4f
miles pass Chah Alimak, which consists of 2 wells about 30
feet deep sunk in a gravel soil. Both contain water. A track
is said to lead from here to Haluan down the water-course.
Reach the lowest point of the valley and cross a broad and
dry, shallow banked water-course, which runs through the hills
on the right; then up to a gardaneh at 5| miles, with an easy
ascent by a good road up a valley. The top of the pass is 7
feet 3 inches wide and has an elevation of some 25U feet abo\ e
Ja’afaru. Down the other side by a steep descent difficult
for guns, and into a valley enclosed by hills, with numerous
tufts of grass and bushes about. Pass under a preeeipitous
crag on the right and at 6 miles a road from Haluan comes in
from the right rear. Road turns half left. At 6£ miles
ascend from the hollow and rise over a low col between two
hills At 6| miles sandhills close by on the right. Road,
descending slightly, at 7| miles track curves slightly to the
left. At 1H miles pass 2 unroofed tanks sunk in the ground;
dimensions of each 9 feet by 30 feet by 9 feet. Water in
winter is frozen over. 1 mile to right high sandhill. At 13£
miles cross a dry and stony water-course with steep banks and
easy approaches. At 14 miles enter a water-course and proceed
up it skirting the hills on the left. Low hills at some distance
off on the right. At 15 miles Durin, a hamlet of 2 or 3 houses,
near the foot of the Kuh Durin. Half acre of cultivation and
a few dwarf date-palms. There are two roads for this stage,
the other coming almost direct from Ja’afaru through the hills,
instead of skirting them on the northern side. This road is
blocked by snow in winter, and is said to be always difficult
for camels" Durin is 700 feet below' the top of the pass. Road
this stage stony but otherwise good.
Camping ground .—Good but stony.
Water. From a spring, 12 feet deep and 3 feet below the
surface of the ground. It is about 4 feet 7 inches square and
supplies an oval pond 66 feet by 30 feet and about 18 inches
deep. The water is warm, being 77° in January when the
air was 41°, and has an oily film on its surface. Irruptions of