'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎242r] (488/610)

The crorge of the Haraz in stage 4 is a very strong position Tactica •
It is about one mile long, 30 yards wide at its narrowest pomt,
with an average width of 50 yards between immense precipices.
The road is cut into the face of the cliff above the river.
There are many populous villages in Larijan in stages 3 Supplies,
and 4 above the defile, and this district should be able to main
tain a force of 2000 men and 800 animals for some weeks after
the harvest. Owing to the large consumption of barley by
local animals, rice would have to be mixed with barley for
more than about 200 animals. The position of Larijan on the
chief trade route, and midway between Khar, Varamm an
Mazandaran, facilitates the provision of supplies from without.
Stases 4 and 5 are caravansarais which only keep supplies
for the ‘ charvadars There are villages within 4 miles of
them.
Lariian is the chief mule owning district in the Elburz. Transport .
Mute rhS to nombor at least 5000. 800 to 900 of them
belonging to the village of Naunal.
(а) From Rahneh, stage 3, to Firuzkuh joining Route 2, in |r a “ ni *
2 stages.
( б ) From Panjab in stage 5 to Baladeh in Nur, Route l\o. 3,
via JvTamaristaq, 3 stages.
(c) From D 5 ab in stage 5 to Baladeh in Nur, Route No. 3,
along the Nur valley, Route No. 17 in 3 stages.
(d) From Am51 to Barfarush in Route No. 2, in 1 stage.
(e) From Am5l to Mahmudabad on Caspian at mouth of
Haraz, 1 stage.
(/) From Amol to Rasht by Caspian coast in 11 stages.
For whole route.
( 1 ) Route No. 1 via Barfarush (see above).
For 'part of route.
(2) Route No. 3 to Baladeh and thence down the Nur valley
to its junction with Haraz [ see communications (c) above ]
7 stages, a longer and more difficult route.
( 3 ) From Tehran to Palur via Far, Route No. 3.
By this route Rahneh is still 3 stages from Tehran, but
the mileage is slightly more. The road over the Talab ridge
Ifrom Lavasan is better than over the Imamzadeh Hashim.
No supplies or accommodation are obtainable in Lar, stage
2 , by this route.
Alternative
routes.