'Report on a journey to Shuster, Dizful, Behbehan, and Shiraz' [‎151r] (23/28)

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Kazerown, being in fact no other than the Shahpoor, which is marked on the map
as running into the sea north of Bushire.
Others declare that the Talesbeed stream is not artificial, but that it is simply the
Shout river, diminished by about two thirds by being drained off on to the rice fields,
and that it eventually falls into the stream coming from Ser Ab-i-Siah.
There is, however, a possibility of the first story being true, and that the Shoul is
the same as the Shahpoor. It would be interesting to investigate the matter more
closely. Time did not allow of our doing so.
Fording the affluent of the Shoul I have mentioned above, we continued up the left
bank, and then wound again to the right bank. Went along a winding but tolerably
good road, and crossing the river twice more ascended to 3,750 feet. The hill sides
are well wooded. Then descended to Pul-i-Murde, where an affluent of the main
stream is crossed by a bridge. Here there is a dilapidated and dirty caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). ,
unoccupied at this season of the year, outside which we camped. No supplies are to
be had here. Barley was brought by a sowar In the East India Company army and later Indian Army, an ordinary native cavalryman or mounted cavalryman. from a distance, but straw and all
provisions for ourselves had to be brought from Talesbeed.
A road goes from here to Ardekan. which place can be reached in one day.
Distance from Talesbeed, five farsakhs.
15t/i December .—Left at 8 a.m., and soon crossed the main stream again, following
it up to its source. The road was a series of ups and downs, but was good enough,
though at times narrow. After ascending for some time reached freshly fallen snow, and
saw the quite fresh traces of a panther. Ascended a short distance further, and reached
the watershed (6,800 feet).
From the crest on the left a view is obtained of Kum Forouz, as it is called on the
map, where it is marked with a query as 16,000 feet; it does not look so high.
The road then gradually descends a broad valley till it reaches some downs, from
Dushmen Ziari tribe. Continued over undulating ground for some distance, when
the road suddenly turns short to the right, and running down a narrow gorge reaches
the River Shoul or Ab^i-Roudian, on the opposite bank of which the village of Tenge
Roudian is situated. Another stream which comes down from Ardeman here joins
the Shoul.
Altitude of the river, 5,250 feet. We were lodged in a good room in a large
building standing in the middle of the village. The usual towers guard the place.
Distance from Pul-i-Murde about 20 miles, called six farsakhs.
About two hours before getting to Teng-i-Roudian I saw two moufflon. They are
said to be very plentiful, but I saw no others.
\6tk December .—Left at 7 a.m. Cold, with sharp frost. The sowars who had come
from Talesbeed went back, and we took on others from here. Left the village east by
south, and immediately ascended the side of the gorge by a very steep zigzag road to a
height of 5,850 feet. The road then passes over level ground for a short distance, and
then ascends again to 6,4C0 feet. After reaching the summit and descending slightly,
the road turns to the right, and passes through what might be termed anywhere a
bond fide oak wood. Up to this point we had only seen trees scattered about the
hill sides. As a rule, if a Persian sees tre ‘s about a quarter of a mile apart from each
other, he talks of the country as being overgrown with impenetrable forest.
On leaving the road one enters a broad valley. At first cultivation is scanty, but it
increases as one travels aloog. We passed the village ot Shoul, which is divided into
two parts, one s tuated off the road under the hill and the other near the road. There
are two towers in the lower part. Shoul is the property of the Muchir, the former
Vizer of Shiraz. ^
After leaving Shoul the road ascends gradually till it reaches the top of a crest
7,200 eet high. Tire h Us are perfectly barren on both sides.
The descent is veiygrntle, and passing the village of Kale-Kissoun we reached
Gomoun, a village belonging to the Cavam-el-Mulk, at 6 p.m.
Gonyoun and the neighbouring c untry supplies Shiraz with grapes, and we passed
many vineyards. ISeasiya.l the fuel u>ed in the town comes from the country we
passed through in the mon.in^.
which there is a fine view of the peaks of Tazik and Kuh Nour above Dashkiargin to
the right, and of Kuh-bKelat in front. Passed a ruined village and tower of the
24 miles.
\A e were lodged b\ the Ketkhuda in a good but very cold room.
r lhe distance fiom Ab-i-Rouniau is called seven farsakhs. We reckoned it at