‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎186v] (377/722)

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NANDIH —Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A villag-e in the Giinabad subdivision of the Tabas district of Khurasan
{Bellew.)
NANFIRIS, or NAUFIRlS—
A Jarge village in the Narjun subdivision of the Kam district of Khurasan
It lies between Mud and Birjand, with a number of smaller hamleis and
gardens studding the base of the hills in the south of the Mud vallev —
{Belletv.)
NANGIRIF F—Lat. } IjOng. • Elev. '
A village in Khurasan in the subdivision and district of Kain, situated in a
bend of the hills below the pass of Gudar-i-Gud.— [BeUew.)
NANKAR— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A village in the Gunabad subdivision of the Tabas district of
Khurasan.— (Bellew.)
NARATs J Tv ALA —Lat. } Long. • Fiev '
A ruined fort in Khurasan, near Maiumai. Fraser, who visited this place
gives the following account of it: “ After a sufficient rest, 1 turned my
attention to the very singular place we had reached. The top of the moun
tain consisted of a narrow ridge, with three principal risings of areatgr
breadth. Two of these, the easternmost, had been crowned by forts, the
stone walls of which were not only visible, but in some places remained
stib ten feet high. The westernmost embraced am area of 50 to 60
scpiaie yaids, the interior of which had been occupied by a number of small
houses or chambers, now all in total ruin. A round water tank, built of
stone and plastered inside, about 10 feet in diameter, and half fil’led with
rubbish, had at one time no doubt afforded water to the inhabitants. The
easternmost and principal fort was about 70 yards by 60 in area. I speak
roughly, for the ground was too uneven to be paced/ Its walls were about
5 feet thick, and the interior appeared to have been principals occupied by
a building or series of buildings, consisting of seven chambers, 40 feet long by
about 14 broad. Around these, between them and the walls, there was a space
of some 50 feet, which on the south-east appears to have been vacant, but on
the north-west was filled with smaller apartments of 20 feet by 8 or 10, all
now quite ruinous. Here, too, was the principal tank, constructed of stone
and cement and arched with burnt bricks, about 20 feet long by ,0 broad
and having still a depth of 12 feet, clear of rubbish.
“ The entrance to this fort was by a gate in the stone wall, arched with
burnt bucks, and about 8 feet high under the centre of the arch. The bricks
are formed of the scanty soil of the hill, which is partly calcareous and partly
argillaceous, and were burnt no doubt with the weeds and furze, which it
produces. _ They are quite square and one-and-a-half inch thick, and the
kim m which they were burnt is still visible ; though I did not go to look
at it. _ these two forts, which may be from 500 to 600 yards asunder, have
been joined by two walls embracing the neck or bridge of the hill, enclosing
a space which m some places is not above 20 yards broad and in no part
above 60 but which appears to have been studded thickly with buildinovs, all
small, hke those in the western fort. The walls in some places are not more
than 2g to 3 feet in thickness; others have been founded upon the huge rocks
of the mountain itself, and these have been of greater size. The mason work
is tar from good, and the cement throughout of clay. No dressed stone is
to be seen. I cannot find that either money or antiques have been found
ere , mt there is plenty of broken pottery strewed about, and narrow