Nov. 8, 1858.] AND ASCENT OF DEMAVEND. 9 



about 30 by the road. It contains upwards of 100 families, whose 

 houses are built of mud and stone, with pent roofs covered with rough 

 slates and the bark of trees. This was the northernmost point which 

 we reached, and the elevation was lower than at any other place we 

 passed through. Leaving Zaniis, we turned sharp round to the 

 right, following a valley which conducted us towards the same range 

 of hills we had crossed the day before. Here are several flourishing 

 villages, the chief of which is Meekhsay, 5912 feet above the sea 

 level. The road continues to ascend this valley for about 5 miles, 

 winding among rocks and forest trees. At this distance we began 

 to climb the mountain, the path, though steep, being neither difficult 

 nor dangerous. The distance to the summit, which is 10,561 feet in 

 height, is about 4 miles. The jungle growth ceases at an elevation of 

 8500 feet. 



July 18th. — Descended to the valley of Niir, through which flows 

 the river of the same name, the course being south-easterly to the 

 village of Ouj, distant 8 miles from the top of the pass. We next 

 passed through the large village of Yoush, situated on the left bank 

 of the river, and halted at the point where the Niir is joined by 

 another large stream flowing from the south. Elevation 6539 feet. 

 The whole of the district of Niir, of which the tovni of Beledeh, 

 situated at the eastern or lower extremity of the valley, half-a-mile 

 below the junction, is the capital, belongs to Meerza Agha Khan, the 

 present Prime-Minister of Persia, whose family has held the property 

 for several generations. It is populous and well cultivated, and at 

 present derives no little importance from its being the native place 

 of the principal functionaries under the present administration of 

 Persia. 



July 19th. — Left Nur, and followed the course of the Yalu Eiver 

 already mentioned. One mile from the jimction we passed the 

 village of Pulvek, where the Yalii River is joined by a considerable 

 stream of the purest water flowing from the south-west. We pro- 

 ceeded up the Yalii, and after following its course between rocky 

 mountains for some distance, we entered a small valley, containing 

 two villages, March and Yalii, also the property of the Prime Minister. 

 The distance to Yalu is 4 miles. Here the Y^alu river again divides 

 into two portions — one flowing from the east through a narrow ravine, 

 and the other coming down from the mountains to the south. This 

 latter we followed. 



The mountains above Yalu are formed of a white friable stone, 

 probably gypsum. The road, after proceeding up the left bank of 

 the stream for about a mile, crosses it by a bridge of stone at the 

 mouth of a dark, narrow gorge, shut in by stupendous precipices 



