'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎205] (240/450)

LET. II.]
PASS OF PERI I ZEN.
205
to make us long to be housed. After proceeding
through it for about an hour at a good round pace,
we began the ascent of Peri i Zen. The road does
not zigzag much, nor are there any precipices; but
the ascent is stony, and rises among woods of dwarf
oak, hawthorn, and broom, of ten or twelve feet high.
The more we ascended, Alps on Alps seemed to
arise above us, and show we had yet much more to
perform. We met a caravan of Arabs, from the
opposite coast, returning from a pilgrimage to Me
shed. Continuing to ascend, we reached a caravan
serai at three in the morning, and by the pleasure
we felt on reaching it now, could estimate the value
it must be of in December's snows. It is kept by a
few soldiers, and we found an oak-wood fire burn
ing, which was very agreeable. We were not yet
halfway up the mountain, the whole ascent of which
is three hours without intermission.
July 31.—"We marched at ten minutes past six in
the evening, continuing the ascent almost immedi
ately, the area of the caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). itself being scarcely
in a level place. As we advanced, new summits seemed
still to rise above us, and the ascent appeared to be
interminable'. From near the top of the pass we
saw the lake which terminates the valley oi Kauze-
roon ; and from some ol the summits still far above
our heads they say the sea is visible.- Alter pro
ceeding for some time along pretty level ground, we
descended a little way through fine woods of oak, ol