‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎100r] (204/722)

It possesses about 120 lodJcas, or fishing’ and coasting luggers. They are
mostly half decked, the largest measuring about 36 feet in length, having
two masts, and, when heavily laden, drawing 4 to 5 feet of water. When not
at sea, these luggers are anchored along the river bank within the village
itself. There are generally 50 or 60 there at a time. There is no bar or
obstruction at the mouth of the river; at least none which affects the passage
of these luggers, even when laden to the water’s edge, entering with fire
wood from Ghaz, or leaving charged with hay for Chikishliar.
The water of the Gurgan at its mouth is salt, but about 3 miles higher up
it is sweet. The depth of the river is from 6 to 9 feet, but the sea shore has
at the most 1 foot of water. The ground m the vicinity of the mouth of
the Gurgan is low, marshy, and covered with reeds, and the climate on this
account is unhealthy, and fever is prevalent. The coast is very shelving,
only 6 feet of water being found at 2 miles, and 12 feet at 3 miles from the
shore. The bottom is blue clay.
According to Muravief, Gumesh Tapa Hill is in reality a wall of burnt
brick about 230 yards long and about 15 feet high; it has been covered
with sand from the desert on the western side, and so at a distance it has the
appearance of a hill. Muravief discovered some human skeletons by the
wall. He supposes that the principal fort of Kizil-Alam was built on Gumesh
Tapa, and that the hill formerly composed a separate island. On the head
land, which formerly jutted out into the sea for some 160 yards, have been
seen the ruins of the walls of houses and of round towers built of large
square bricks, the debris of which may be met with at the bottom of the
sea at 70 or 80 yards from the shore. It is possible that these may have
been recently washed down from the shore, but at any rate from the latest
investigations of the locality no appearance of fragments of stones or rocks
of any sort have been discovered.— [Thomson, Pushchin, O’Donovan.)
GUMUTT, on GUMBAZ— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A village of 15 houses in Khurasan, near which shepherds are accustomed
to camp. It lies 9 miles from Zibad on the road to Bajistan.—(Aozdm.)
GTJN— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A village in Khurasan, 12 miles from Sabzawar, on the road to Mshapur.
It is situated in a small valley through which a stream winds, the water of
which is slightly brackish.— [M.S. Route).
GTJNABAD— Lat. , Long. Elev.
A subdivision of the Tabbas district in Khurasan. It is said to be the
richest subdivision of the district, and to produce large quantities of
wheat, and could no doubt support a considerable force. Its situationtoo,
behind the Khaf range, is favorable for the assembly of troops for an
advance by Khaf on Herat. The water supply is said to be good. All round
the cultivation is a stony waste. Jumain is the principal of eight villages
which constitute the township, and Kuh-Kalat the best pass to it from the
south-west.— [Mac Gregor.)
GtJNABAD— Lat. 36° 33' 24," Long. 59'’ 15' 0"; Elev. 3,700 h [Lemm).
A large village in Khurasan, 26 miles from Mashhad, on the road to Haia-
ghaz. It contains 100 houses and can afford ample supplies. One halt
the village is the property of the shrine at Mashhad; the oiher half is he
rent-free by the villagers, who are of Persian origin. [Napier.)
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