‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎44v] (93/722)

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late years been severed from the chiefship ; and the former may still be
regarded as belonging to it, for it will probably revert on the first change of
government in- Khurasan. The boundaries of the chiefship are somewhat
undefined, but a rough estimate of its extent may be made.
On the west a line drawn from the “ Atak ” west of Kush-Khana, or from
Boundaries a point north-north-west of the town of Bujnurd;
southward, passing 14 miles east of that town, and
across the southern chain of Alburz to the Isferayfn plain, and thence
deflected eastwards for 10 or 12 miles to include Isferayfn, will give the bound
ary approximately. Thence a line drawn west-south-west, passing about 15
miles south of Jah Jarm to a point within about 10 miles of Itiabat, will
give its southern limits. Bending northwards and slightly east, a line drawn
from that point across the mountains to Chalbash on the Atrak water
shed will give the eastern boundary. The northern boundary is quite
undefined.
The Atrak marks the limit of the inhabited country; but the Ilkhani The paramount chief of certain tribes in south west Iran.
considers all beyond, as far as the heights overlooking the Turkumau
“ obahs,” as in his possession ; and neither Kurd nor Turkman would attempt
to settle there without his assent.
The tract of country thus defined measures therefore from east to west about
Extent 90 ; and the average breadth from north to
south of the inhabited portion is about 50 miles,
giving an area of about 4,500 square miles.
The plateau or basin in which stands the town of Bujnurd is situated about
Bujnurd. centr . e tlle chiefship, and is enclosed by a knot
* principal mountains of the central section of
the Eastern Alburz. . It has an area of 80 square miles, is level m the centre,
and rises on all sides in ravine cleft slopes and rocky glens, to the summits
of irregular, but everywhere high and difficult, ridges.
1 r ^° n orth 7 or 8 miles of impracticable ground intervene between the
pmteau and the Garma Khans, a tributary of the Atrak. North-east is a
high peak known as the Akhir-Kuh, or “ last mountain^ ; so called because
westwards and northwards as far as the outer Atak ridge and Kari-Kala
there is nothing visible but a wide expanse of comparatively low broken
country, formed of ridgesand plateaux cut up by innumerable ravines. From
the base of this peak north-west the fertile valley of
Mana descends to the Atrak. Westward, across
the mountain barrier, lies the wide plateau of Simal-
. , , . .. . broken by many deep ravines, reaching to the
ra rom e b as e of the Kurd-Kurd ^ peak. South and south -west
nse the lofty mountains, Ala-Dagh, Kuh-Salik, and Takht Mirza, beyond
W . 1C 18 e P^m Isferayin and Juvain. West of Ala-Dagh is the pro
minent Kurd-Kurd peak, and along the base of both mountains stretches
t le plateau or plain of Shaughan, draining south, and extending to Chandir
and the Gurgan. s
The plateau of Bujnurd has a height of 3,200 feet. Mana, Simalghan,
and Shaughan are lower, but all have an equally fertile soil and ample water.
le moun ains, or the most part of limestone and trap, afford good pastur-
aire, an o ten wide tracts of arable land, bearing good cx-ops of wheat and
bai ey. they are well-wooded on their northern slopes with juniper. To
the nest a thin forest of deciduous trees extends up the valleys.
Mana and Simalghan.
Mountains to the south.