'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎6] (27/450)

6
THE CAULDRON.
[CH. XII.
the Karadagh *, the strata are very curiously bent
and undulating. In the mouth ol the pass is a Utile
square ruin like a fort, and in it a well lined 'uith
very large stones has lately been discovered.
From the Pass of Derbend we proceeded in a
south-west direction. Before us rose the little fur
rowed line of hills of Gheshee Khan and Ivara
Hassan, running north-west and south-east. On
our right hand the level of the country sunk at once
in an abrupt and ruinous manner, as if it had
fallen in to the depth of more than a hundred feet,
and was curiously marked by parallel ribs of sand
stone at equal intervals, all running from north-west
to south-east, and like all the strata we have just
passed, rising to the east and falling to the west,
with a very considerable dip. The bottom of this
Cauldron was again furrowed and cut up by water
courses, in many of which nitre was discoverable.
Tiie soil was generally of a very dark red colour.
We descended into it at half past seven, and kept
through it for the remainder of our day's journey.
* The Karadagh runs up to Derbend i Bazian, and thence,
after running a little way straight like a wall, it runs a little west
and forms the hill of Tchermala ; thence it turns more west and
forms that of Khalkhalan. The Karadagh diminishes in height
all the way from the Seghirmeh, which is very high, and towers
above all the other mountains in the distance. Tchermala and
Khalkhalan are inconsiderable. They seem of earth, and their
sides are much furrowed. Soon after this line of hills terminates
or loses itself. Aghjalar is a district beyond Tchermala, reaching
to the Keuy Sanjiak river, and contains ten villages.