10 JOURNEY THROUGH DISTRICTS N. OF ELBURZ, [Nov. 8, 1858. 



400 feet high, between which the river rushes furiously. The path 

 up this gorge is dangerous in the extreme : in places it traverses the 

 face of the precipice overhanging the torrent, which one can hear as 

 it roars and boils in whirling eddies far below ; and in others, the 

 low parapet which had been built by the side of the narrow path as a 

 slight protection had entirely fallen away, rendering the passage 

 perilous even to the sure-footed mules, for which Northern Persia is 

 famous. It would be difficult, however, to find a finer gorge than 

 that through which we were passing. After about 1:^ or 2 hours, 

 having attained a considerable height, we emerged upon an open 

 chummun,* in which we found several camps of Eeliats, or nomades, 

 who in summer seek these high elevations on account of the fine 

 pasturage the mountains afford to their innumerable herds. Passing 

 along this for about 3 miles, we came to the foot of another pass, 

 very steep and high, and which it took us an hour and a half to 

 ascend. Here we were caught by a thunder-storm, which however 

 did not prevent us from taking the elevation, found to be 10,851 feet. 

 The descent on the other side is neither so long nor steep as the 

 ascent, but it is more rocky. Among other descriptions of rock 

 we discovered coal of inferior quality in many places. At the foot 

 of the pass, as on the other side, is built a wretched caravanserai, 

 intended as a protection to travellers who may venture to cross these 

 hills in the early spring or late autumn. To the left, descending 

 from the rocks by innumerable falls, flowed the Sefid Aub. This 

 waters a fine open valley, covered with grass, and everywhere dotted 

 with the tents of Eeliats. We followed this stream for about 2 miles, 

 when we entered the valley of the Laur River flowing from the 

 north-west, and it being dark, we pitched our tent on its banks for 

 the night. 



July 20th. — Walked down the banks of the stream, which is fed by 

 numberless springs, and whose sides are clothed with grass. The 

 width of the valley is about f of a mile. After about 6 miles it 

 opens out considerably, so much so that the space almost deserves 

 the name of a plain, being about 4 square miles in extent. After 

 this it narrows again, the river passing between two rocks which rise 

 immediately out of its banks. Beyond these we found the camp of 

 Mr. Murray and the Mission pitched at a pleasant spot named Chehel 

 Cheshmeh,t or the Forty Springs, from the numerous fountains of 

 clear water which well up out of the rocks and the plain in every 

 direction. 



The first part of our trip was now concluded, the most important part 



♦ Meadow. f Elevation, 7833 feet. 



