'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎324] (433/496)

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324
September 22nd .—Awaking at the dawn, we succeeded in stealing a
compass bearing* of the defile through which the Abi-Shirwan breaks,
without exciting suspicion; and hearing on the previous night that an
inscription existed on a stone in the valley below us, we prepared for a
descent of the mountain in search of it. Dispatching the “ Khoda
Hafiz” to our host (who, with the privilege of age, had not yet risen, or,
what is more likely, cared not to expose himself to the etiquette of leave-
taking), accompanied by his son and a few horsemen, we left the hamlet
of the outlaw, and descended, in an E. by N. direction, into the plain of
the Pushti-Kuh. At 6*45 we reached a small camp of Abdullah Beg’s
people, and a stone with a few scratches on it was pointed out as the one
which we were in search of. Our disappointment, therefore, was great,
after having come so much out of the way. Proceeded after a halt of
ten minutes in a general direction of N. N. W., over the undulating,
broken, and arid ridges of the Pushti-Kuh. These ridges are composed
principally of sandstone and limestone, having numerous perpendicular
schistous strata traversing them in a direction from north to south, and
is the most desolate piece of country we have yet passed over. The hill
scenery around is, however, bold and striking. To the N. E. the high
ranges of Lowsheh Shahu and Avroman, broken through by the Abi-
Shirwan, bound the view; while on the W. and N. W. the precipitous
hill of Semiram,| “ a natural fastness of the most extraordinary strength,”
terminating in the successive peaks of Sur-Khushk, Sartak, and Bamu,|
that rise to an elevation of 7000 feet, enclose the valley, which, for
desolation and sterility, may vie with any portion of the globe. I mus l
not, however, omit the small circular plain of the Pushti-badan as an
oasis in the dreary waste. We saw it beneath us a little on our left,
and the spot, from its animated appearance, appears to be a favorite
locality of the Kurdish families. At 9'30 the road took a more N. El} 7 ,
direction, and at this time the cliff of Ban-Zardeh bore 174°, and hill of
Semiram 315°, distant about five miles. From this to the Gfundar fold
we traversed successive heaps of the same barren nature, with such
abrupt and constant ascents and declivities that it became a perfect laboi
to sit one’s horse. At 11*50 we called a halt before passing the ford ovei
^ No. 25 E. Abdullah Beg states that Darneh stood on the East bank of 0 ie
Zemkan, and not on the left bank, as we heard from the Bibiyan people.
t Often called Shemiram.
t For a detailed description of these localities, see Major Rawlinson s.notes m
R. G\ J., Yol. IX., part I., page 29-30-31, where an interesting description
die ruins and sculptures met with at Hurin and Sheikhan will be lound.