"الجغرافيا الشرقية لابن حوقل، رحّالة عربي من القرن العاشر" [‎١‎٧‎٢] (٣٨٨/٢٢٥)

( 172 )
In all Kouhistan there is not any sea, or great laker
it is all a hilly country, except from Hamadan to Rey, or Kom„
where the hilk are fewer, and less considerable.
From Shehrzour to Hulwan, to Semireh, to ^ lj^
Sir van, to Lour, to the vicinity of Isfahan, and the
borders of Saber Khast, and from that in the direction of Kashan
and Hamadan, to Shehrzour and the borders of Azerbaijan, it is
all a mountainous country, and there is not any spot trom which
the hills may not be seen.
Rey, which we haye mentioned, on the confines of Deilman
Oui/j, is equally belonging to Jehal and Kho-
rassan ; and after Baghdad, there is not any city of the east larger
or more flourishing than it, except Nishapour.
Among the mountains of this country, the principal is Duma-
vend from which one can see fifty farsang around,
and I have never heard that any man ever ascended to its summit;
and, in the romances of the Persians ' lt ' ls
said that Zohak is confined in chains within this mountain. And
the mountain of Bisetoun is likewise very lofty and dif
ficult of ascent; the face of the mountain you would suppose to
be carved, or hewn out; and they say there was a certain king
who wished to make a summer house, or palace, of this moun-