'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎264] (373/496)

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the Kurds Jellaleh,* and said to be half way between Kasri-Shirin and
Sar-Pul. Many vestiges of former habitations are seen around us, on
the crests and ridges which are thrown off from the north end of the
Shanbalah j ranges. This we rounded at 6*30, emerging from the
-cinder-like detritus of the hills into the alluvial valley of the Holwan.
Through the plain we pursued a general direction of 102°, crossing
many branches of the Holwan that are here distributed over the plain
for agricultural purposes, at 7T0 the wretched caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). or Khan of
Puli Zohab was reached. For the last hour we had been escorted by a
large party of Jaf horsemen, under the chief of the tribe, Mahmud Beg.
The contrast between the Arab and the Kurd is, in appearance, in
favor of the latter. Wearing a gayer and better style of dress,—the large
turban surmounting, in most instances, fine and manly features,—with a
profusion of arms and tinsel finery,—attached to their spirited, but ill-bred
horses,—prepossesses one in their favor at first sight; but for hardiness and
endurance, either in the fight or in the chase, the small, ill-clad, but
sinewy Arab stands as unrivalled in his own person, as does the metal
and temper of his pure steed excel that of all other eastern breeds.
Numerous visitors from the Jaf and Hamawand Kurds, who are in this
neighbourhood, gave Major Pawlinson full occupation throughout the
day. Being compelled to receive them all in a single room, the only
tenable apartment the Khan afforded, rendered the place, from its
crowded state, so insufferably hot, that obtaining the sleep that we much
required after our night’s journey was out of the question: complaints,
grievances, threats, and persuasions, were poured forth in Turkish,
Kurdish, and Persian, by the chiefs and their numerous followers;—
* This may be the scene of the defeat of part of Yezdijerd’s army, and not ti0
position, bearing nearly the same name, mentioned in page 258 of this Journal,
am inclined to view the former as the ruins of a much earlier town.
. t Sambulos of Tacitus, and the reputed scene of the exploits of Hercules and
his invincible band. Gotarzes, the Parthian monarch, was here employed in o er
ing sacrifices when his Kingdom was invaded by Meherdates. The yame signi
fies an ear of wheat, and Major Rawlinson has ingeniously shewn, in his notes on a
March into Kharistan, page 43, its connection with the earliest principles o r
ligious adoration in the east. Doubtless many local deities were worshipe in
earlier ages on the banks of the Gilan river; and if in Shanbalah or Sanbalai,
signifying “an ear of wheat,” and being the characteristic of fecundity, we can ra
the cause of its dedication to Venus, and its representation on the coins of ^ a ^'| al j
we may, I think, in the name of Mountanarish, the western boundary of ^ ie ^j 10
river, equally trace the name of the goddess, as represented by Anaitis, an
Persian Anahia, though the Major has not remarked it. It is, howevei , ^ ^
conjectural, and suggested entirely by a perusal of the clever notes, to
I have before alluded, in the Royal Geographical Journal.