"دليل بلاد فارس، المجلد I ويشمل محافظات أستراباد، شاهرود-بوستان، خراسان، وسيستان" [ظ‎‎٧‎٩] (٧٢٢/١٦٣)

112
evident that they are being gradually undermined by the canal, 'there are
no reeds or rushes growing on the banks of the canal, which flows with a con
siderable current. The canal is full of fish, some of a tolerable size, of the
barbel species. The town contains some 500 houses, with a square mud fort
in the middle, having towers at each of its angles. The inside of the
town is described as filthily dirty, and the houses are of the poorest
description.
It is so called from the soil being mixed with pebbles, differing from the
Sistan soil in general. It is an ancient town, and probably existed in the
time of Cyrus; but it presents written marks of decay and none of recent
improvements ; except the canal on the north-west side flowing towards
Bairamabad, which must have originated subsequent to the bunding of the
Helm and. The inhabitants are Sistani, but the governor is of Baluch ex
traction, bearing allegiance to the Chief of Burj-i-Alam Khan.— (Goldmid,
Euan-Smith, Rozario .)
DASHT-T- ARMtJT ALT—L at. 37° 15' 0" to Lat. 37° 25' 0", Long.
56° it)' 0" to Long. 56° 50' 0" ; Elev. 3,000 ' [ Napier ).
A watershed in Kurdish Khurasan, some 3,000 feet high, which divides the
Kal Mura system from that of the Gurgan. It is lowlying and barren,
but capable of cultivation.— [Napier, MacGregor.)
PASHT-I-BIAZ—Lat. 34° 1' 30", Long. 58° 46' 20" ; Elev. 5,200
(5,420 (?) ').
An important village in Khurasan, on the road between Kain and Kakli,
16 miles from the latter town. It is so called from being a salubrious
spot, enjoying immunity from epidemics, &c., and is said to have maintained
its wonted reputation so as to record only DO casualties out of its population
of 1,500. It is situated at the entrance of a wide glen at the north of the
Nimbuluk valley, and is surrounded by extensive gardens, amongst which
some magnificent plane trees are to be seen. Its chief products are opium,
silk, wheat, cotton, barley, and vegetables. The population consists of
Savvads, merchants, men of letters, and the natives. The latter form the
labouring and artisan class, and w T ear a sheepskin cap, conical in shape, like
those of the Turkmans. It contains some 300 houses and an old fort, and
has four kanats (one or which, built by the Gabos, is said never to run
dry), the remains of an ancient mosque, with ruins of other large buildings,
and a very old humam .— [GoUUmid, Beilew, Rozario.)
DASHT-I-GARD, or GIRD— Lat. , Long. ;
Elev.
A village in Khurasan, between 5 and 6 miles from Mashhad, on the
road to Sarakhs. 1 — [MacGregor.)
DASHT-I-GARD, or GIRD— Lat. , Long. ;
Elev.
A cluster of villages in Khurasan, on the road from Khur to Sabzawar, and
about 160 miles from the former town. Water and supplies are procur
able.— [MacGregor.)
DASHT-I-GARD, or GIRD— Lat. , Long. ;
Elev.
A village in Khurasan, 20 miles from Tabbas, on the road to Bfrjand. It has
a small fort, good water, and a few supplies. Its inhabitants are about 40
nomadic families.— [MacGregor.)