1853.] Travels in Central Asia. 287 



June 26th. — Leaves Qordook ; barren, rugged country to Kolar ; 

 new companion — a pirzada of Mushid, a ventriloquist and saint, flying 

 from Cabul on account of a murder and intrigue, also a Hindu 

 named Jyram, a Therba servant and an Affghan. 



27th. — Kolar to Kunduz ; numerous pools on almost inaccessible 

 pinnacles of rock. 



2Hth and 29th. — Detained at Kunduz by Meer Ali Morad Shah. 



30th. — Set off, and again detained. 



July 1st. — Very billy country covered with thorny bush, with 

 grand view of snowy mountains. 



Ten miles through fertile valley of Shool, counted 27 pools on the 

 hills within 4 miles ; wild ravines. 



Fort of Oosrooth ; 1000 houses. A road thence by Kroo to Kaffir- 

 stan, and by Hindus and Man. 



2nd. — Very dangerous road to Shohaal, which belongs to Kustam 

 Khan ; plundered by one Khan Mohammad ; with difficulty avoid 

 going on the reprisal expedition. 



3rd. — Most rugged country to Khomushu, a very curious fort. 

 Ascent by steep steps on hands and feet to a narrow ledge of rock, 

 — thence by a ladder of skin-rope (or baskets and windlass) to the 

 top, where there is a remarkable fountain ; the rock, primitive lime- 

 stone ; the basin about 20 feet wide and 6| deep in centre, gradually 

 sloping — always bubbling and brilliantly clear ; cold in summer and 

 hot in winter, when it hisses with a loud noise like Noo Shoo ; always 

 full and never overflows ; all impurities immediately carried off. Fort 

 very ancient with caverns used now as granaries. 



Echo most remarkable from a wall-piece ; running up a long valley 

 increasing in loudness, then dying away as it returns, again increas- 

 ing and again subsiding, three times, the third the loudest. 



The hill is described as 180 to 200 yards in circumference at the 

 summit and 250 — 300 at base, and 2100 feet high. 



The tradition is, that when Noah was at Mecca the chief of this 

 land, " Khor" by name, was converted to Islam and went to pay 

 his respects. Noah now promised to grant him a favour on which 

 Khor bellowed out in a rude voice " Water ;" this demand offended 

 Noah, and he cursed the land of Khor which became solid rock ; 

 —however to keep his promise he made this everlasting spring at 



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