'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.' [‎169] (200/582)

FROM HAMADAN TO GOOLPYEGAN.
came into the high road. Our course along this lay east-north-
east for the first hour, over unequal ground, having villages and
gardens in sight of us on all sides, and the lofty range of Kooh
Alwend on our right. This brought us to the large village of Ta-
freejan, some separate portions of which were walled in, resem
bling distinct castles. The valley in which it lay had several
streams of water, many fruit-gardens, and abundance of poplar
trees: but, retired as this spot seemed to be from the public eye,
there were many courtezans who had fixed their abodes here.
From Tafreejan, our course lay about a point more southerly,
and the road became more barren and more uneven; the basis of
it, as in the first part of our way, being hills of blue slate, with
veins of white quartz interspersed. A second hour by this route
brought us to the village of Yalpan, where we found a part of our
promised company, the remainder being still behind.
Since quitting Bisitoon we had seen no public khans on the
road, nor are there any, it is said, between this and Ispahan. Pas
sengers take shelter, therefore, where they can find it; sometimes
beneath a shed; at others, in the stable with their horses ; and, as
was our case at Kengawar, they sometimes sleep in the open air.
In the way from Tafreejan to Yalpan we had a heavy shower of
rain, which lasted nearly the whole of the way, and wetted us so
completely, that we needed more than ordinarily some place of
shelter, to dry our garments and to repose. The cold of the air
was extreme, and on the range of hills on our right, which is a dis
tinct chain from the Alwend, there had recently fallen sufficient
snow to sheet over their summits with unbroken white, though
the spot where the snow lay was not more than two hours distant
from hence. The place on which our companions had taken up
their quarters was merely an open court, with some few little dark
hovels around it, into which asses and horned cattle were driven
at night. After wandering about the village, however, for some
time, we at length found a subterraneous cave, apparently a place
of shelter for cattle also, in which we took up our abode.