'ROUTES IN PERSIA. (VOLUME I.) (KHORASAN AND SISTAN.)' [‎103v] (211/536)

198
Route No. IX — contd.
Rud, which is gained below the ruins of the Gazgun bridge
in stage 1. (2) This is the ordinary road from Pul-i-Khatun
or Sadrabad to Persian Sarakhs, following the left bank of
the Hari Rud. The distance could be shortened by a tew
miles by not following the river so closely.
R 0 ad (1) Unmade and unmetalled throughout. Suitable
for camels throughout. A fair-weather motor road could be
made from Meshed to Sadrabad. Field artillery and rough two-
wheeled country carts could pass with some difficulty on account
of the roughness and steepness of the track m stage o, unless the
Kashaf Rud is in high flood, which is unusual except in April
and May, and not always then. In this case the usual track is
often covered with deep mud and water and horses or camels
take precarious tracks along the face of the hill to avoid the
floods (2) Unmade and unmetalled throughout. Suitable
for all arms throughout ; the only obstacles are the irrigation
canals, especially in stage 8 . These might delay, but would
not stop wheeled vehicles.
The road crosses a pass of 3,600 feet in stage 5, but it does
not offer any great obstacle. The Kashaf Rud is hard to cross
except at the recognised fords, on account of its deep banks and
muddv bottom. There are numerous good fords unless the
river is swollen with heavy rains in the spiing time, or, ess
frequently, after unusual rain at other seasons. The lords
are usually 1 foot to 2 ieet deep with gravel or slightly muddy
bottoms, current from 1 to 1| miles an hour. In autumn the
river runs dry or almost so. (2) No passes, defiles or other
difficult places. , , ,
jp^er.—(1) Sufficient for a brigade or larger force with
transport throughout. Good enough for drinking, but rather
brackish when taken from the river. (2) Ample throughout.
Fuel, —( 1 ) Not much in the first 2 stages owing to culti
vation, but afterwards abundant. (2) Rather scanty on Persian
side, but plentiful on the Russian side.
Fodder. —(1) Good grazing especially in stages 4 and 5 where
there is excellent grazing in the river-bed and valley for thousands
of camels, and fair grazing for horses on the hill-slopes. ( 2 )
Good grazing. , . ,
Supplies'. —(1) In stages 1 and 2 sufficient for a brigade with
transport at 2 or 3 days’ notice in normal seasons. In stage 6