'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎270] (379/496)

270
shah visited the place on a tour through the province. The character
of the Amir was stamped with the usual vicious propensities of Persian
functionaries, and those who resided in the province under his rule had
submitted for a long time, with tolerable grace, to every species of ty
ranny and oppression. The Ali Ilahi, to which sect the Kirrindis be
long, had suffered more than their Mahomedan neighbours, in having
been called upon to submit their wives and daughters to the embraces of
the imperious Amir. Such conduct naturally irritated these bold moun
taineers, and two individuals that were sent to remonstrate with the
haughty Prince were pistolled on the spot. This led to his immediate
assassination by the Kirrind people, who, fearful of the consequences, left
their houses and sought shelter in the mountains. At this time the
chief of the Kirrindis returned, and, hearing the state of affairs, sided
with his clansmen, and this constitutes his whole offence. By oaths and
promises of safety he was induced, after some time, to visit the capital,
and, I need scarcely add, suffered, for his credulity, an incarceration that
will, I fear, end only with his life. His family of four sons and a daugh
ter still reside here, and came this morning to visit Major Rawlinson:
kneeling together on the floor of the apartment, the two eldest boys took
hold of the skirt of the Major’s coat, and, with oriental reverence, press
ing it to their lips, requested, with tears in their eyes, his intercession
for the liberation of their father. The attitude and entreaty of these
fine boys was painfully interesting, and will no doubt induce the old
friend and guest of their father to exert himself for his release.
Kirrind* has an extremely pretty appearance, being situated in a dee])
gorge of the Zarr range. The houses, though small, are neat, and built
in terraces on the slope of the gorge, with the naked and scarped rock
rising abruptly above them. The aspect of the village resembles that ol
Beilan, in a gorge of the Amanus range, leading from the Bay of Skan
derun into Northern Syria. Rich gardens extend up the defile am
along the base of the mountain, which produce a variety of fruits, m
eluding the celebrated stoneless grape known as that of Kirrind. 1
willow and lofty poplar attain a considerable size on the margin .
mountain stream that bisects the village, and is afterwards turned oft in^
smaller channels for the supply of the gardens in the plain.
copious springs, issuing from the plain, which is here about thicC in ^
broad, add their waters to numerous mountain streams, and fonn
. . i o i r/ hv double
* Karine of Isidore of Charax. The village is in latitude 34 to ' .r*. e nce
altitudes of the O. By Merid. Alt. 34° If/ 24" N. Its chronometrical an
East of Baghdad is 1° 46' 05".