'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎312] (421/496)

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iii public, he betrays a superior mind in the more secret councils, and
possesses a shrewd cunning that is actually incumbent on, and insepara
ble from, the character of a Persian satrap of the present day.
September 15th. — Left the town at 4*25 A. m., before day-dawn, to
avoid the numerous beggars that infest the streets and highways in this
vicinity. In their petitions they are more importunate, and less satisfied,
than any mendicants that I have ever met with. I do not altogether
allude to the distressed classes, but to the servants of respectable men
who may have been sent with letters and congratulations, or have been
attendant on their masters when paying visits on their own especial
business. All imagine themselves entitled to a fee, and purposely annoy
with their services for the coveted reward. New claimants appear
at every turn, and render the departure both irksome and unprofitable.
Our road lay in a W. by S. ^ S. direction, over the low undulations
that we had skirted on our approach to the town. At 6*7 halted for
seven minutes on the eastern slope, adjoining the Mahidasht plain, and
obtained the following bearings :—
Pass over the Char-Zabar, a continuation of the Kileh-Kazi range,
leading to Harunabad, 256°—Khan of Mahidasht in a line with it.
Peak of Kileh-Kazi, 283.° Resumed our route at a smarter pace over
the fertile plain of Mahidasht, and reached the Khan of the same name
at 8*10 A. m. It stands nearly in the centre of this extensive plain, on
the right bank oi the small river Mirikh, whose source is about fourteen
miles further to the south. The usual observations^ were obtained, and
the following bearings were observed from the top of the Khan :—Peak oi
Kileh Kazi, 294°. O centre at setting for variation of the needle, 2/o .
Char-Zabar Pass, leading to Harunabad, 249°. Centre of the Pass on the
great Shahu range, 343|°. Tomb of Weis on the low undulations
bordering the east side of the plain, 9^°. High Peak of the Farrow
range, 69 . Culminating point of the same range at Eehistan, with the
road we came in one with it, 78°. An ancient tumulus in the plain
called Chaghan Nargis, 316^°.
September 16^A.—Crossing the Mirikh by a bridge on one arch, at 4 K
a. m., we resumed our route towards Harunabad, in the direction of the
Char-Zabar pass. At 5*15 commenced the ascent of the pass from the
Mahidasht plain, reaching its summit at 6*20, over a very rough and
* These make
Baghdad.
the Khan in latitude 34°
15' dd" N., and 2° 13'
50 v East of