‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎68v] (141/722)

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the harvest season to the Atrak and Gurgan districts for the purpose of
reaping' and storing their grain.
The Charwas, it is estimated, number some 12,000 families, or 60,000
souls.— {Thomson.)
CHASMAH-I-G1LAS— Lat. 36° 39' 0", Long. 59° 15' 0"; Elev.
{Napier). ^ y
A large spring or pool in Khurasan lying 4 to 5 miles north-east from
Gunabad. It issues from a picturesque looking rock at the foot of a
detached spur of the northern range of the Alburz known as the Kuh-i-
Radkan, and forms a large basin full of fish and crabs. It is said to be the
source of the water that flows into Mashhad, and is. used in the service of
the shrine. The stream from the spring is, however, joined by a larger stream
fed by numerous springs rising in the pasturage about Chanarioa. A mile
below the village of Amirabad, the whole water is drawn off into a canal,
and reaches Mashhad divested of all the purity of its original source.
The spring, and some beautiful pasture, with a short, close turf stretching for
a mile on each side of the stream, are the property of the Hazrat (a shrine).
The purity of the water is remarkable. At a depth of 12 or 14 feet every
stone at the bottom is visible. The actual source of supply probably lies
high up in the mountains to the north, and at least 15 to 20 miles distant.—
{Kkanikoff, Napier.)
CHASMAH-I-KHOJA HASS AN— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A stage in Khurasan, 8f miles from Rubat-i-Khan, on the road from Yaze
to Tabbas. The water here is sweet, but there is no habitation except a
deserted house with traces of former cultivation.'— {Gill.)
CHASMA-I-ALI— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A sacred spring, about 194 miles from Tehran, on the road thence to Shahrud
by Ffruz-Kuhi. The village of Astana is 1 mile beyond it. A stream flows
from the spring, watering gardens and cultivation bordering the road.
— {Napier.)
It is chiefly remarkable from the great volume of water that issues from
one point, and the complete sterility of the valley and
Holy spring. surrounding mountains from which it is presumably
fed. The discharge at the spring head was found to be at a rough cal
culation 100 cubic feet per second. The water is perfectly pure, having
apparently no matter in suspension; but it is credited with some healing
properties, and is said to be especially efficacious in all skin diseases. Pos
sibly the persons who resort to it would find the springs of their own
villages equally so if more freely resorted to.
The stratum from which the spring issues is a conglomerate of gravel, with
some large angular boulders of limestone, possibly brought to the spot at
some very remote period. No other rock is visible. A large tank, shaded by
a fine plane tree, is filled from the spring, and contains a number of tench,
said to be sacred, but, as I found, not difficult to land with a silver hook.
These are said to be fed by pilgrims who come by thousands from Sari-
Mazandaran, to which there is a good road. A building, erected by the Shah
on the edge of the tank, might, if not occupied by some of the pious fraternity
of tramps usually to be found hanging about such places, be available for
any European traveller who chose to pay a small sum, and would be a most
pleasant lodging in the summer.
Being at the junction of one of the main trade routes from Mazandaran
and Astarabad to Shahrud and Damghan, and a route much used by pilgrims
bound to Mashhad, the spring is visited yearly by large numbers of travel-