'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎273] (382/496)

a large tribe, possessing the country to the south, are in rebellion, and in
arms against the Kirmanshah Government, we are informed that it will
be dangerous to attempt the more frequented road by Harunabad with
so large a caravan. At this intelligence we are much disappointed, for
one object in coming this way is to obtain a stone that is reported to be
covered with inscriptions at the above place. After some debate, a small
party of Gurans agree to accompany Mr. H. by the lower road to Harun
abad, where he will endeavour to obtain the coveted stone, or, at all
events, procure a copy of the legend inscribed upon it; while the bag
gage proceeds by an easy pass to the south, on to the capital, Gahwarah,
where Major Rawlinson and myself will join it by a direct, but more
difficult, route across the high range of the Zagros.
August 29th .—The parties making the detour according to the above
arrangement, having left before us, Major Rawlinson and myself, at 2 T 5 ,
started on a course due north, up one of the most steep ascents that pro
bably a horse has ever gone; in fact, the pace partook more of the clam
ber than the walk, over rough loose stones or masses of rock, direct
above the village of Kirrind to the summit of the Zagros. After much
floundering, and serious risk, both to man and horse, we gained the top
at 3T0, and halted to rest the jaded beasts near a conspicuous old oak,
which stands here in solitary grandeur. What a magnificent view is
now before us! To the East and K E., at a short distance, lay the table
flats occupying the crests of the Dalahu range, with the solitary hamlet
of Biwanij in the plain of the same name, immediately under us, and
exhibiting in its smoke the only trace of animation around. The
barren peaks of the KaPeh Kazi group, less high, but more remote, and
seen through the break where the Abi Zemkan forces itself, holds a cen
tral place; while the lofty mountains of Shahu and Farrow, at the dis
tances of ninety and sixty miles respectively, terminate the pros
pect in this direction. To the S. E. and South, the rich plains of Kir
rind and Harunabad, celebrated in antiquity as the theatres of war and
pageant, gradually fade in the indistinct features of the Calhur province,
or are hid in the shade of the lofty Zagros, over which are seen the dis
tant peaks of Manisht and the Luristan chain of the Kebur Kuh ; and,
bounding the horizon to the west, thousands of feet below us, like a vast
sea, extending as far as the eye can compass, are the fertile and long-
coveted districts of Babylonia and Assyria. What a rich tableau is here
spread before the gaze of the conqueror ! I question, however, if any of
the many monarchs who, from time to time, have swayed the destinies of