'Report on the preliminary survey of the route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line. By W King Wood, Assistant Superintendent, Indo-European Telegraph Department.' [‎120v] (245/300)

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was passed Jth mile to our right, and at 9 50 miles we passed over the edge of
a range of sand hills. A.t this point (9’50), there is a small Mdl or pillar, 50
yards to the right, known as Chahwish, and marks the spot where a famous
robber was built up alive, some 8 years ago, by Ismail Khan Javar. A rich
plain was now in view, with an abundance of sweet running water. At 9^
miles, we changed our bearing to 259°, and at 10 miles passed through cultiva
tion and fallow land to 11*50 miles, where we noticed a stream of water
emerging from a Kanat, and camped on the high ground just above it. Ihe
measurement to the village was 12 miles.
Kahreh to Hajiabad.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
9th February 1899
11
Hajiabad.
14*94
191*30
For the first mile after leaving Fahreh, we traversed a sandy plain, with
several Kanats, in a south-south-east direction, and entered a thin jungle, which
became very thick at 3*50 miles. The Kanat of sweet water co ring from
Ibrahimabad, a hamlet half a mile to our right, was passed at 4*20 miles, while
half a mile further on we passed through Junabad, on some rising ground, and
have an extensive view of the jungle and the desert, which is on a lower level
to tho north-east and east. The jungle gradually opens out, and, after passing
the small hamlet of Bording at 5*75 miles, we emerge on to a hard gravelly
plain, and have an excellent road to our camp. A track from Bourj Agha
Mohamad to Deh Yagi Khan crosses ours at 6 60 miles, and at 6*75 we pass
the hamlet of Zaminabad with its pond of sweet water and cultivated land.
There is nothing of note as we cross the desert plain, keeping our south-south
east direction, till 11 *40 miles, when we pass close to the left of a big tamarisk
tree. At 13 90 miles, a line of Kanats flowing from west to east, the water of
which can be reached by a five-foot rope, is passed. A track crosses ours at
14*40 miles, and at 14*75 we pass a kiln for baking Kanat pipes, where there:
is a stream of sweet water. We camp on the banks of the stream, and a
quarter of a mile to the east of Hajiabad, where the grazing is good.
Hajiabab to Kegan.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
10th February 1899 ...
12
Began, 2,290 feet.
8*88
200*18
We had a short and very pleasant march to Began through low jungle,
which in many places was cleared and under cultivation, which was well
advanced, and this green carpet with an occasional Kahur and Konar, and
here and there a strip of tamarisk, gave the country a truly park-like appear
ance Several francolin and a few wood-pigeons were seen, and an easy shot
at one of the latter proved successful. It was difficult to take or register any
true bearing, but I made it 155° for the first 3 miles, and 146° for the remain
ing 6 miles. Several streams of sweet, limpid water, whose banks were fringed
with a delicate green grass and clover, also many Kanats, crossed our path.
We could not see beyond the distance of a mile on either side. It is therefore
possible several hamlets escaped our notice. Ababad at *70 miles, Mahmad-
abad at 2 65 miles and another village at 3’40 miles were seenou the right side,
while Meerabad was to our left at 1 40 miles. I noted that the cultivation of
Began started at 6 60 miles and continued up to the town, 8*88 miles. Here
we were back again in Began after an absence of just 2 months. The climate
is much warmer, and spring well advanced.