'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' [‎121] (178/412)

PERSIA. 121
and perverse temper of an old woman, &c. After ascending for four
miles, during which several hogs and deer crossed our path, we
came to a good caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). , where we stopped.
We spent the 16th here very comfortably, the people of the
caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). bringing us apricots, ice, and honey. Saw at a distance
goldfinches and green fly-catchers. In front of us was a long
serrated ridge of hills. Left in the evening for Dustiajun, distant
fifteen miles.
In ascending to the top of the Perizun it is very difficult to keep
in the right road, as it winds so much among stones and trees, of
which the common hawthorn and oak are the principal. The fruit
of the hawthorn differs from that of the British in being rounder. I
observed great quantities of laburnum in ascending. Holes had been
burnt in the stems of many of the oak-trees, for the purpose of
getting at the wild honey.
Not a sound was heard all over the mountain; the deepest silence
reigned around, interrupted only by the melancholy and peculiar
notes of the bird, which constantly calls huk! huk ! " Oh, God!
oh, Godl" This, it is said, was a great sinner, who was changed
into a bird, and is continually calling on the name of the Almighty.
Having reached the top, we looked down upon the valley of
Dustiajun, which was almost entirely covered with a lake. We now
experienced a very great exhilaration of spirits, of which our horses
and cattle partook ; we went gaily forward, and in a very short time
reached the lofty willow trees at Dustiajun. A very copious spring
issues from a perpendicular and cavernous lime-stone rock behind
the trees, which turns several flour-mills, and then rushes impe
tuously into the lake. We slept soundly on its banks,
r The