"الطرق في بلاد فارس. (المجلد I.) (خراسان وسيستان.)" [ظ‎‎٤‎٤] (٥٣٦/٩٣)

80
Route No. Ill— contd.
route is passable for all arms. In the section Zuzan to Rui
Khaf, only mule transport can traverse the Dehaneh-i-Sinu
but all arms can complete the march by making a detour of
4 miles, via Nishtafun. Water scarce in stage 2.
No. of stage
and total
distance.
Details.
1
BUZNABAD .
25 m. General
direction
(4,072').
NNE.
Leave Rain
25
bearing
60 degrees
and skirting city along the now crumbling walls, pass through
fields of saffron and between extensive orchards. Soil is a
light clay ; at three miles, pass two small forts of Zahirabad
and Firuzabad on left ; small kalateh of Mahmui on right at
foot of the Kuh-i-Babuzar ; at 4£ miles pass a hauz ; at
miles, pass village of Isfishad on left near end of valley. Plain
is very bare and stony. Pass village of Isasrabad at 7^ miles
(12 houses), and a little further on a small fort. Here a road
turns off to right of Khunik, a large village not far off. At
miles cross the Rud-i-Khunik. River bed is 150 yards
broad with perpendicular clay banks. The water (brackish)
present (1883) 15 feet broad by 8 inches deep. It is also called
the Rud-i-Shur. Follow down stream ; on right is a rocky hill.
At OJ miles the country is very bare, no grazing or firewood.
Leave river which bears 100 degrees, winding through low hills
and bear N. up dry water course, 40 yards broad, flanked
by low red clay hill ; at 10 miles, large water course which
bears 353 degrees. At 10£ miles across a low neck into ano
ther valley. Road good ; then down a rather steep path, but
practicable for all arms. Cross another spur at 11 miles and
then ascend dry bed of stream. Rocky yellow hills with
sub-soil of clay on either side. Ravine narrows at 12| miles
and passes between high rocky cliffs. This is the pass of
Chang-i-Falak. Heights are accessible to infantry. Breadth
©f ravine 20 yards. Crests of hills on either side are £
mile apart, but their spurs of yellow rock and clay narrow
the pathway to 10 feet. Ascend gradually.
At 14 miles, reach summit of Chang-i-Falak Pass. Approxi
mate elevation 5,425 feet. Path needs widening for guns.