'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎51] (82/582)

TO ZOHAUB AND SERPOOL.
51
could hear of no extensive ruins of a city as there reported,
though it is quite possible that such might exist, and yet not be
recognised by our informers. All, however, agreed that the castle
itself was small and nearly in a perfect state, as it is resorted to
by the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Zohaub as a retreat in time of trouble, and was
used for this purpose very lately, when Abd-el-Rakheem was
trying his fortune against the late Abdallah Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Bagdad. #
It was particularly insisted on, that there was no river or branch of
a river near it, and that the country there was rocky and generally
barren, the few shepherds on the hills getting their water from
springs.
In the name of this place it is easy to recognise the Dascara-
el-Melik of D'Anville. The name, my Dervish insisted, signifies in
old Persian, " the small castle of the Prince," from " Deiz," a
castle, " gurra," small, and " el-Melek," the Prince; but I know
not whether this etymology is indisputable. There are many
reasons, however, for not admitting it to be the Dastagherd of
antiquity;—first, that no deep river covers its approach; next,
that it is a barren wild, and in no sense a delicious spot; and,
lastly, that it is more than even five days' march from the river be
fore Ctesiphon. Again, the castle is too small for that described
* The ancient inhabitants of these parts were very nearly the same kind of people as the
present race. The Cossseans, against whom Alexander undertook an expedition from Ecbatana,
after the mourning for the death of Hephestion, were a warlike nation, bordering upon the
Uxians. " Their country," says Arrian, " is mountainous, and their towns not fortified ; for
when they perceive their land invaded by a strong army, they immediately betake themselves
to the tops of the mountains (either in a body or in separate parties, as it happens) where no
enemy can approach : and when the invaders of the country are retired, they return to their
habitations, and take up their former trade of plundering and robbing their neighbours, by
which means they support themselves."— Arrian, b. 7. c. 15. v. 2. p. 156.
Strabo (lib. ii.) describes these same Cossseans as a people bordering upon Media, and so
intractable a race that the Persian monarchs were wont to buy their peace of them to keep
them from infesting their territories with their usual depredations ; " for," says he, " whenever
they attempted to subdue them, the Cossseans, retiring to their mountains, easily frustrated all
their designs. So that the Persian kings were forced to pay an annual tribute when th§y went
to their summer palace at Ecbatana, for their safe passage back again to Babylon.— RooJce's
Note to the passage cited.
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