'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎320] (429/496)

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can, however, be reached in a few hours, and that luxury, ice, is attain
able all the year round, by sending to the mountains above.
The town of Zohab* is situate about eight geographical miles almost
due north of Sari-Pul, and close under the half isolated crag abutting from
the N. W. extremity of the Dalahu heights. On the summit of this, the
ancient fort of Ban Zardeh is perceptible in its ruined walls. It is
known also as Kileh Yezdijird,f and is described by Major Rawlinsonas
a very strong position, both in its natural and artificial defences. A deep
gorge, that is seen as you descend the hill, divides the crag from the
higher mountains to the east. The tomb of Baba Yadgar J is here
situated, and is visited annually by numerous devotees. The locality is
reckoned as a very sacred one: at every turn of the road up the mountain
some shreds of cloth hanging to the branch of every conspicuous tree,
—piles of stones, to which every passer by makes an addition, or, the
branches of the trees themselves, thickly clustered with circular pebbles,
‘ v °ti ve ofierings to the tutelar saint, attest the respect paid to the sanctity
of the shrine. In many places these marks of veneration could be traced
for miles, and I detected some of our Guran escort adding to the already
abundant tokens.
Oui stay at Zohab was very unpleasant, and the heat oppressive in the
extreme. Towards evening all felt languid, and the very cattle partook
of the general depression. The evening set in dull and cloudy, without
a breath of wind to aid the circulation ; and the swarms of musquitoes
and sand-flies that infested the dwelling prevented the obtainment of
K.leep. Major Rawlinson is seized with fever, and worn out and restless.
We mounted our horses at 2*55, on a morning dark as Erebus, preferring
the excitement of the march to the stagnant air of the village. Occasional
glimpses of the compass gave our course as 325°, over confused and
barren hillocks which surround the plain of Zohab.—At 5*45, we halted
on the bank of a rivulet, bordered with the oleander, for half an hour,
to allow the escort to perform its morning prayers. In this short time
\^e lost the hoises of two of the party, from their having eaten of the
in inia 22// N '’ and East of Ba ghdad 1° 23' 01-
in 1844 was 3° 10' West.
xne variawv^
„• "t T/- Zdijir i’j Castl , e : , lt: was t0 this P ,ac e that Yezdijird, the last of the Sassa-
man Kings, fled, on his defeat by the Arabs.
o>£^i? r I l aWlitlS0 "’ in h!s Notes on a March into Khuzistan details the various
Koval p In e ![ e . s * ; that are to be met with in the neighbourhood of Ban Zardeh.
Kojal Geographical Journal, Yol. IX., Part I., 1839 .