‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎143v] (291/722)

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Regarding 1 tlie drainage beds o£ the torrents already referred to on the
west of the Tun range, the largest bed is that of Khusf, which collects
its water from the Mawinabad and Bajiran ranges and turns south
towards Karman. On the east, all the drainage of the tract called Su-
i-Jam and the east drainage of the Biwajan run into the Kashaf Rid.
The drainage of Nimbuluk, Kain, and of Khaf Pain goes to the Dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. -i-
Diwalan ; that of the Zir Kuh tract, which includes all to the east of the
Kuh Anguran* range, comprising Gulwarda, Shorab, Yazdan, and Kaland,
drains to the Dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. -i-Kurshab close to the Kuh Kaburla ;t that of Furg,
Darmian, Ahwaz, Tabas, drains to the Dak System of postal communication used in Moghul India and later by the East India Company. -i-Tundi in the Dasht-i Naumid.
With reference to what has been said at the beginning of this article
about the northern frontier of Khurasan, it may be mentioned that in Russian
official maps up to 1863 it is shown running along the crest of the Daman-
i-Kuh or Atak and continuing thence to the Murghab; but in the same maps,
corrected up to 1875, it is made to follow the river Atrak to ils
source.
The strategical importance to Russia of extending her frontier to the
river consists in the security which the possession of the passes over the Da-
man-i-Kuh will afford to her communications ; these in case of a further
advance eastward, such as the expedition against the Akhal Tekkes, must—•
except she obtained permission to pass through Persian territory—lead
along the foot of the nprthern slopes of the Daman-i-Kuh, where water and
forage are obtainable.
Should a Russian force be disembarked near Askabad, there is nothing
to prevent its occupying the whole of Khurasan ; whilst by seizing the
important position of Shahrud-Bustan they would cover their flank by vir
tually cutting Persia in half. The Persians do uot seem to recognize its
importance, and nothing has been done to protect it. It lies so near Ashurada,
that it could be immediately seized by the Russians. There is plenty of water
in the height of summer for a force of 60,000 men ; the district is very
productive, and it would be impossible to invest it, if properly fortified.
After seizing the Shahrud-Bustan defile, the force would advance up the
valley of the Gurgan and over the Kafar and Sultan Maidan passes on
Mashhad. This is by far the easiest route, and probably available for
wheeled traffic beyond Chardih.
The border line" of actual Persian possession can only be approximately
laid down ; and in distinguishing between it and the
osscss^ion lin6 ° f actual line up to which Persian influence extends, the line of
inhabited villages on the border may be conveniently
taken.
Proceeding eastward from the Caspian, the Kara Su, beyond which
there are no villages, may be taken as the boundary as far as Ak-Kala,
a Persian outpost five miles north of Astarabad. This stream rises in
the mountains about 30 miles east from Astarabad, and winds first
north-west and then west for 40 or 50 miles, falling into the sea six or seven
miles south of Khoja Nafas at the mouth of the Gurgau. At the pAnt
where the Kara Su is crossed north of Astarabad it is girth deep, with a
width of 50 or 60 yards and a sluggish current.
From Ak-Kala the line would skirt the forest, which stretches from the
base of the mountains into the plain, with a varying width of from 6 to
12 miles, and the village lands of Naudih, Katul, Mamtalu, Bar Kala,
Findarisk, and Naudih, the last village on the plain lying at the foot of the
hills on a small tributary of the Gurgan.
M
* Vide “ Kuh-i-Angahran.”
f or “ Kabuda" ( 2 . v.).