'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME IV.' [‎210r] (424/652)

but there is not much of it. On the right bank the date groves are backed
by low jagged hills ; on the opposite side are also low rocky hills between
which the sand is changed to a light soil bearing thin grass and a few babul
trees. Here would be the camping-ground. Water from the river is
somewhat brackish, but drinkable. Dates are abundant, but other supplies
doubtful, and forage scarce.
The Maskhutan river joins the Isfakeh stream and flows into the Bam-
pur river, via the Talasht ndla, and eventually loses itself in the Jaz Murian
Hdmun. It does not run into the Kair river, as was formerly surmised..
Maskhutan is called Maskotu by Goldsmid, the first traveller who visited
it. Floyer, however, who could speak Baluchi, Persian and Arabic, and
is therefore a good authority, seems to have no do*ubt about the name. He
was informed the derivation was Maskan Hutdn, the residence of the
Huts, or H5ts ; from Maskan (Arabic) “a residence.”
Since 1876, this place has not been visited by any European, but the
surrounding country has been mapped, and the direction of the flow of the
river definitely settled.
The mdlidt of the district in 1902 was 800 tumdns. — {Goldsmid, 1866 ;
Floyer, 1876] Brazier-Creagh, 1891] Sykes, 1902.)
MASKUN—Lat. 28° 57'0". Long. 57° 47' 17''. Elev. 7,000'.
A caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). and small village in Kirman, in the Aspi Darreh valley
{q.v.) surrounded by considerable cultivation, situated 36 miles from Bam on
the Kahnu-Bandar Abbas road, and 9| miles from Sagdar on the Bijnabad-
Kirman road.
In the vicinity are ample camping-grounds, with abundance of water
and fuel, but any large quantity of supplies would have to be arranged
for beforehand. About 3| miles south is Ibbad-i-Maskun (q.v.), stated
to be a hot spring emitting carbonic acid gas. Maskun is one of the three'
divisions of the Jabal Bariz.— (Sykes, 1894] Brazier-Creagh, 1894.)
MAST I AN—
A well, thirteen miles beyond Birin Jaski, on the road from Nasratabad
to Neh, lies under a hill in the open plain and about five miles east of the
road. The water is very brackish.— (Mohi-ud-Din.)
MASTINI —Vide Aptar..
MAT KUN—
A hamlet in Makran 3J miles east'of Abgah on the Fanfich-Geh road.—
(Sykes, 1893.)
MATU or MAKKI—
A headland on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. coast, about 68 miles west of Chahbar.—
(See Kalat, Kuh-i-)
MAZAMPUSHT KUH—
A part of the Bampusht Khh range, which it continues eastwards from
the Hinduan Pass (q.v.) to Sagarkand. St. John remarks : “ The Bampusht
hills continue their bold scarp under the name of the Kfth-i-Mazampusht
in the same even west to east direction until they end in a loftier and
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