'Travels from India to England : comprehending a visit to the Burman Empire, and a journey through Persia, Asia Minor, European Turkey, &c., in the years 1825-26, by James Edward Alexander' [‎104] (161/412)

104
PERSIA.
CHAPTER IV.
Konartukht Illyants Kumeredge Devist Visit to the Ruins of Shapoor
Kazeroon Perizun......Dustiajun Khonahzunnion Arrival at Shiraz.
Marched for Konartukht, distant sixteen miles. Immediately
after leaving Dalkee we entered a narrow gorge in the hills, com
posed of sandstone and clay slate. The hills increased in height as
we advanced, from two hundred feet to eight hundred; their upper
parts presented the appearance of perpendicular scarps ; the dip of
the strata towards the north ; the angle of inclination 40°. On
rounding a corner we came suddenly upon a rapid river, called the
Shoora, from its brackish waters. The road continued for some
distance parallel to this impetuous and noisy torrent, which was
divided into several deep streams. On the other side of the valley,
and over the principal stream, a bridge was observed, one or two of
the arches of which had been carried away; we were consequently
obliged to cross at a deep ford higher up. When we attained the
middle the water was over the saddle-flaps. We got over luckily
without accident, with the exception of two of our dogs, which
went howling down the stream.
In the first part of the pass several rock-partridges were shot;
they differed from others in plumage, which was of a greyish pink
colour, and also in being smaller. The capra ibex, or wild goat,
abounds here, but it is of an inferior size to that of the Alps. Wild
sheep are occasionally found; they have long legs, and hair instead
of