"رحلات في آشور، ميديا، وبلاد فارس، بما في ذلك رحلة من بغداد مروراً بجبل زاغروس وصولاً إلى حمدان، في أكباتانا القديمة، والبحوث في أصفهان وأطلال برسبوليس، ورحلة منها مروراً بشيراز وشابور وصولاً إلى ساحل البحر. وصف البصرة، بوشهر، البحرين، هرمز، ومسقط، وسرد لحملة ضد قراصنة الخليج العربي، مع رسومات توضيحية لرحلة بحرية لنيرتشوس، والمرور ببحر العرب إلى بومباي. [‎٥‎٢] (٥٨٢/٨٣)

52
FROM HELLOWLA,
as containing the extensive establishment kept up at Dastagherd,
and too perfect for the building which Heraclius is said to have
totally destroyed by flames. Besides which, from such a place, if
once invested by hostile troops, the possessor could not make a
precipitate escape ; this could only have been done in a plain and
open country like Khan-e-Keen, where Dastagherd was most pro
bably seated.
It has been said that the present town of Zohaub occupies the
site of the ancient Holwan, which was also one of the fertile
abodes of Khosrou; and this—from its having behind it a steep
range of mountains, and before it a noble plain of a circular
form, nearly nine miles in diameter, and being hemmed in all
around by lofty hills,—might have made an agreeable residence
for the most luxurious prince.
We saw nothing like ancient ruins here, but our examination
was a very hasty one. If, however, this be the site of Holwan, as
its relative distance from Khan-e-Keen and Kassr-Shirine would
seem to imply, D'Anville has erred in placing it on a branch of
the Diala, for no river, nor even the arm of one, flows through
or near the town.
The most contiguous stream is the Alwund itself, at the other
extremity of the plain, nearly ten miles off; and from this all the
streams for watering the rice grounds lead up northerly towards
Zohaub, the level declining that way.
Kinnier has placed Holwan at a place called Albania, near the
thirty-fifth degree of latitude ; but Zohaub agrees more accurately
with the position assigned in its latitude, which is nearer to thirty-
four degrees than thirty-five degrees, as well as with its distance
from Bagdad, which is fully one hundred and twenty miles, or
five days' good travelling; whereas Albania, of which place I have
not heard, would be at least thirty miles further—by its position
on the map.
, 1 ^ e re m ounted at the khan of Zohaub, about El-Assr, (four
o clock) and going out of the western gate, came round the outer