"الطرق في بلاد فارس. (المجلد I.) (خراسان وسيستان.)" [و‎‎١‎١‎٨] (٥٣٦/٢٤٠)

Route No. 2— contd.
right and in it at 15i miles is Darreh Bit. Two or three houses
near a pool of water.
9 TABAS (W) .. 15 m. General direction a
• (2,100 / ). little W. of S. Re-
150 turn to point where
track leaves nala, and then over a region of clay ridges and
hollows, a continuous series of ups and downs, fatiguing to
animals at any time, and very heavy going in wet weather.
At 1^ miles turn down a dry water-course. At 2f miles this
becomes a deep narrow gorge between precipitous rocky slopes
and continues so to 2^ miles, when the track goes off to the
left and the ravine to the right. Over an open plain towards
a kutal. Rise to this is steep, gradient about 17°, and reach
top at miles. Descent also very steep into a dry ravine
with perpendicular banks about 20 feet high. Both slopes of
this kutal are strewn with loose round shingle very fatiguing
to climb. Cross the ravine and follow the left bank of it. At
5 miles it is 300 yards wide, and at 6 miles, 600. Banks nearly
perpendicular, 40 or 50 feet high. At 7 miles, some caves on
the left on the rocky bank, evidently often used as a shelter for
travellers. Close by is a hauz. Track diverges to the left to
avoid a water-course with an extremely rough and rocky bed.
At 8 miles over a smooth gravel plain to the town, with a
gentle descent.
For Tabas see Route 1, stage 14.
10 CHAHAR DEH ll^m. General direction NW.
■ Road over level plain
161J of sand and gravel
the whole way. Eight villages are visible on the right and
left. At 1 mile pass an imamzadeh and a large gdz or tamarisk
tree close by on its left. At 1J miles pass a village of 12 or
14 houses, half mile off to the left. At 8| miles after descending
slightly enter cultivation around a small village which is reached
at 8£ miles. Twelve houses ; water from a copious stream.
On through cultivation ; at 10 miles village of Tashkanun 20
houses, and at 10| miles cross a dry water-course with easy
banks and a gravel bed. At 11 miles enter the extensive
cultivation round Chahar Deh. A fine caravanserai, built of
burnt bricks about 1885, with two courtyards and a hdldkhdneh.
It is about 80 yards square, exclusive of the outer court, which