'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.' [‎260] (291/582)

250 PASS OF KOTEL IMAUM ZADE—A COURIER.
We halted at a stream here, and refreshed with the Khan,
after which we remounted, and went south-east for three full
hours, when we came to the foot of another range of hills, forming
the southern boundary of the plain, and going east and west.
The hills were here formed of limestone and chalk, with flint
imbedded. The ascent on the one side was easy, but the descent
on the other was particularly difficult. The mountains here are
not so bare as those in Irak Ajami, having stunted trees and
brushwood on their sides. Fifty musketeers were stationed here
in different parts, to protect the pass. The echo in this part of
the mountains was very perfect and loud ; the scenery was wild
and interesting, especially the view in the valley below. This
pass is called Kotel Imaum Zade, as it leads down to the village of
that name, where we did not arrive till sunset, though the dis
tance was said to be only nine fursucks ; but all our horses were
completely knocked up from the fatigue of ascending and descend
ing these two hills; and the people were also extremely fatigued,
from having been obliged to cross over them on foot. The air of
this place was warmer than we had found it since leaving Ispahan,
arising from the closeness of the valley, and from its being on
a lower level than the surrounding country. The Dervish Ismael
was charmed with the change; and finding his spirits raised,
attributed it to a certain virtue in the earth and water of the
place, which he extolled very highly.
At midnight, a courier arrived here from Shiraz, being one of
three sent on three different roads to meet the chief, Shuker Ullah
Khan. He brought us an account of the Shah Zade having heard
of a large band of Bactiari, from two to three hundred, who were
assembled for the purpose of attacking and plundering caravans
passing through Fars; and the courier delivered an order of the
Prince for Shuker Ullah Khan to bring the whole of this band of
robbers to him with all speed. An answer was immediately re
turned to the Prince, stating the fact of all his horses and men
being so worn down by fatigue, that they would not be equal