'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎281] (390/496)

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of little repose. Being anxious to conceal as much as possible the na
ture of our operations from the natives, Major Rawlinson withdrew, at
tended by the villagers, to the cool shade of some luxuriant walnut trees,
while I occupied myself in taking the necessary observations* for ascer
taining the position of the place. This was satisfactorily accomplished
without exciting suspicion: and here I may remark, that a too great cau
tion cannot be observed by travellers in this respect when journeying
among superstitious Asiatics; for a casual display of a brass instrument,
by exciting the cupidity of the lower orders, may tempt them to plunder,
and at the same time cause, in the minds of the better classes, a distrust
as to the motives of the stranger in visiting so distant a country, which
may terminate in the loss of his liberty, or even be attended with serious
risk to his life.
A sumptuous breakfast was discussed in company with our host and a
Sinjabi Chief. The viands were laid on carpets, spread on a raised plat
form, built around the trunks and under the umbrageous foliage of a
copse composed of the walnut, the willow, and the stately poplar. Nume
rous artificial ducts convey the clear cold waters of the Zemkan in every
direction around us. Uniting at a point about fifty yards beyond where
we are seated, they form a cascade, and serve to set in motion a few flour
mills that are now in active operation, and lend their aid to the sup
pressed murmurs of the torrent below in breaking the otherwise general
stillness of the surrounding scene.
Some anxiety is now felt at the non-arrival of Mr. H., who should
have joined us this morning from Harunabad by the unfrequented road
through the mountains to the south. The state of the country, indeed,
causes serious alarm at his protracted absence, and as a further delay
here will prevent the execution of our plans, we are compelled to leave
in inquietude and uncertainty. At 2*55 P. M., therefore, we resumed our
route, after dispatching some horsemen to the south in quest of our
friend. Our course now lay along the left bank of the Zemkan, up the
valley of the river in a direction of north. At 3*30, the river was forded
again, and a general, but rather circuitous, route, was kept of 56°, while
ascending the northern slopes of the Kal’eh Kazi range. At 5h. the
head of the pass was reached, after traversing a rough road over undu
lating ridges, bearing a sorry and barren aspect, but here and there re
* The results of these observations are given elsewhere, under the head
Gf ah war ah.