'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' [‎107] (164/412)

PERSIA. ' 107
hares were smaller, but have much longer ears than those of Europe.
The partridges were of the species called painted. The male was
a beautiful bird : the feet and bills were red, the breast black spotted
with white, with a black ring round the neck ; the sides were ferru
ginous, marked with black. The females and young were brown
with black spots. Thermometer 90°.
Left for Kumeredge, distant fourteen miles. On quitting Konar-
tukht, after a mile's ride, I observed, on the hill to the right, an
upright stone or small tower, and across and along the road extended
the foundations of buildings. In a field I saw several holes made
by porcupines, who had been digging for bulbous roots. After
traversing three miles of plain, we entered the hills, between which
we crept along by a tortuous and narrow path, with a rapid river on
our left, which we were told by Noor Mahomed, who intended
accompanying us to Kazeroon, was the Shapoor, which name it
acquired after passing the far-famed ruins of the city so called.
Shortly after this, passing through hills impregnated with salt, it is
termed the Shoora, which we had already crossed. The stones in
the bed and sides of the river seemed to be indurated sandstone.
After winding amongst the hills for some time longer, and crossing
several small mountain torrents, we suddenly found ourselves in a
deep and narrow glen. The tout-ensemhle was here of the grandest
and most sublime description j steep mountains of sixteen hundi ed
feet in height, seemingly tumbling on our heads: the strata were
within a few degrees of being vertical. The moon, appearing from
behind one of the loftiest peaks, threw half the scene into deep shade,
and mildly illuminated the other half. A complete stop seemed now
to be put to our further progress; but our guides suddenly turning
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