"دليل بلاد فارس، المجلد I ويشمل محافظات أستراباد، شاهرود-بوستان، خراسان، وسيستان" [و‎‎٧‎٣] (٧٢٢/١٥٠)

which all the rivers descend from the northern slopes^ are all the villages of
the Akhal Teke. At the same time the frontier line of Persian settlements
extends in almost a straight line from west to east as far as Sarakhs ; pro
jecting, as at Kalai and Daraghaz, somewhat to the north. Consequently,
in the east, at Daraghaz, the Akhal Teke and Persian settlements almost join ;
while on the west they are about 132 miles apart. The whole of the triangle
between the Persian and Teke settlements is filled with spurs of the Alburz
and Daman-i-Kuh range. Here are many beautiful valleys, once peopled, and
still showing signs of prosperity. They are all now ravaged by the Tekes,
who are not sufficiently numerous to occupy them, and who, if they did,
would, in the end, be exterminated by the Persians. The climate is exceeding
ly good and healthy, and there is forest on the mountain sides, though not
so much as in the province of Astarabad. The mountains are not so rugged
as those of Kalat and Daraghaz, and in many places there are pasturages
amongst the slopes. The Atrak river has its sources in these mountains.
The strategical importance to Russia of extending her frontier to this river
consists in the security that the possession of the passes over the Daman-
i-Kuh will afford to her communications, which, in case of a further advance
eastward, must, except she obtain permission to pass through Persian
territory, lead along the foot of the northern slopes of the Daman-i-Kuh,
where water and forage are obtainable.— (Petrusevilch, Intelligence Branch,
War Office, 1880.)
DARA— Lat. , Long. ; Elev.
A village of the Jah Jarm district of Khurasan. It has about 70 houses.
The inhabitants of this and the neighbouring hamlets of the Jah Jarm district
are all Persians ; which is strange ; as the very name of the district and all the
ruins visible are distinctly Arab, and there is in the neighbouring district of
Rustan a large mixture of Arab blood.— [MacGregor, Napier.)
DA HABIT— Lat. 33° 48' 26", Long. 56° 57' 45"; Elev.
( Lentz).
The first stage from Tabbas on the road to Tun in Khurasan. There is a
serai here, and some supplies are obtainable. It lies on a river of the same
name.— (M ac Gregor.)
DARAGHAZ— Lat. between 36° 30' 0" and 37° 40' 0", Long, between 58°
30' 0" and 00° 20' 0" ; Elev. h .....
One of the northern or Kurd districts of Khurasan. This district, com
prising a single fertile valley and the mountains enclosing^ it, is the
onlv Persian possession on the northern watershed of the Albuiz, east of
Astarabad, save a few small villages in the Kalat Atak. It has been main
tained with very varying fortunes against the constant attacks of a powerful
enemy, not by the weak, unsympathetic, and dilatory efforts of govern
ment, but solely through the tenacious resistance of the brave and hardy
tribesmen, who have clung to their fertile lands through ever}- a versify,
returning again and again with unconquerable persistence to their devast
ated homes and ruined fields and vineyards.
Boundaries.— boundaries are fairly well defined. The small stream
rising in the Maidan Khan a plateau, on the direct route from Mashhad and
Kuchan to Daraghaz, known as the Rud-i-Kibkap, and lower down as toe
Rud-i-Var or Vert, may be held to mark the boundary line There are
no villages on the lower course of this stream, but its water, when i
reaches the plain, is diverted to some of the Daraghaz - ta ' vn ages. iom