'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎316] (425/496)

furnishes an ample interval; and our lengthened stay at Behistan, and
two visits to Kirmanshah, afford us positive data, from daily observations,
for the intermediate periods. The variations occasioned by temperature
and travelling are thus corrected, and an approximate rate, which may
be depended on, is thus ascertained and applied, for the days occupied in
marching.
September —Accompanied by an escort of Grurans, we continued
our route at sunrise, in a general direction of W., towards the heights
of Dalahu. The road lay over the abrupt projections abutting from the
east face of the Dalahu crest, through a forest of oak, mingled with the
palm, the walnut, and the pear, but was so extremely tortuous that
it would be both useless and tedious to note its various turns. It was
a continued ascent the whole way, over hill and ravine, torrent and
brake, until we arrived, at 2 P. M,, at Bibiyan,* an encampment of
Sunni Kurds, occupying a small plain under the K. E. brow of the
Dalahu crest. This is a beautiful spot, and the view from a hill close to
the camp is singularly magnificent. The whole valley of the Zemkan,
with that clear river like a silver thread, although six miles distant,
appears at our feet.
The ravines clothed with fern, and here and there highly cultivated,
now tinged with the light or hid in the shade of the setting sun, extend
in radial order into the valley below, and carry numerous mountain
streams in their deeply furrowed beds to aid in swelling the waters of
the Zemkan. We can trace several encampments on the declivity of the
mountain by the smoke ascending from the evening fires, but to the north
all appears a vast sea of desolation. The evening is peculiarly mild, and
the peaceful avocations carrying on in our secluded camp,—indiscrinu
nately occupied, as it is, with the human and brute species,—affords a
pleasing picture of a pastoral life.
From this spot the following bearings were obtained:—mountain above
the town of Gahwara, 151^ ; Kileh-Kazi, 132° ; Peak of Parrow, 102f ?
having the centre of the Abi-Shekr plain in one with it; Centre o
the Holoor plain, eight miles distant, 78° ; Plain of Nirridjee, eight val es
distant, to 5° ; Loosheh, at the top of the plain of Mirabad, 22 , D al
neh due north ; pass on the high mountain range of Shahee, 87^ ? °P eI1
hag of the Shahmar, 114°,
* Between Bibiyan and Gahwarah are several rich valleys. The P^ c 'j n( j
bear the following names : Nerije, Darraweis, Girgowan, Bindar, j
Dashtimort. Bibiyan is in latitude 34° 32' 45 // N., and 1° 44/ 50 ; East o c §