'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME I' [‎256r] (528/820)

MAD—MAD
491
of tlie old mines ; they are much prized for theii good colour. The mouth
of the Mirza AhmadI mine, which once probably formed part of the Zak
mines, lies about 80 feet lower than that of the Zak mine, and goes down
80 feet vertical. It has also very good turquoises ; but working in it is
very precarious, on account of the bad state of the galleries and the amount
of loose rubbish they contain. The next valley is the Dar-i-Kuh. In
it are several very important mines,—the Karbalai KarimI, the Dar-i-Kuh,
and others. The Dar-i-Kuh (door of the mountain) mine is very deep
going down some 150 feet vertical. It is an old and very extensive mine,
and some of its galleries extend as far as the Zak mine. It is very dan
gerous, on account of the amount of rubbish it contains. The rubbish is
badly propped up by stones and small sticks, and several labourers have, at
times, been buried in it. One of its galleries, called the Daniki, goes for
about 100 feet through rubbish. The width of this gallery is about from
1 to 2 feet, its height not more; and the descent down it very dangerous.
Only three or four of the miners have the courage to go into this gallery.
Some galleries of this mine are coir pletely filled up, and could only be
cleared at great expense and with difficulty. Above the mine can be seen
many shafts, which formerly lighted and ventilated the mine, but i re now
filled up. All the mines in the Dar-i-Kiih valley are worked, and contain
good turquoises.
Further west is the Darreh-i-Siah, the “ Black Valley,” with th old ’AJi
Mirzai and the Ra’ish mines. The ’All Mirzai, particularly the lower one of
that name, is very dangerous. The rock is very soft and much disinte
grated. In often falls and fills up the mine. A part of this mine is called
the “ Bi R ;,h Rau,” “ the shaft without a road,” to go down into which is
very difficult. The turquoises of ’All Mirzai are not very good; their colour
soon fades.
On the top of the Ra’ish mines in the same valley, a vein of torquoises
was discovered only a year or two ago, and a new mine was opened there,
with the name of the “ Sar-i-Ra’ish ” (the “ Head of the Ra’ish”). In it are
found turquoises of great size and good colour ; but the colour soon fades,
and the stone becomes a dirty green with white and grey spots. As
long as these turquoises are kept damp, they preserve their colour : if
once they get dry, they are worth very little.
The next valley, called the Darreh-i-Sabz, the “Green Valley,” contains
the old ArdaTani and Sabz mines and the new Anjiri mines. The Ardalani
was once a great mine. More than twelve old shafts, all now filled up, are
still to be seen; its present entrance is by a large artificial cave with
a dome-like roof. It has a vertical depth of 85 feet; but is badly ventilated,
having several galleries full of foul air. Such galleries are called Chiragh
Kush, i.e., “lamp extinguishers.” The Ardalani turquoises are not good..
The Sabz mine has, as its name implies, green turquoises, and is at
present filled up.
The Anjiri mines, which have their name from the fig trees growing in
the valley, are new mines. They produced during the last few years
a very great quantity of turquoises, which had a fine colour and were sold
well. The colour of these turquoises, however, soon faded, and the pos
sessors were not at all satisfied with their purchases. Schindler can-
3 q si