BUSHIRE TO SHIRAZ. 
93 
meet with regular paths, refreshing rivulets, and luxuriant vegetation.* 
The blackbird and the thrush were flying from tree to tree, and 
reminded us how sensibly we had changed our climate. 
We set off at eight o’clock on the morning of the 26th, and arrived at 
our encampment in the valley of Abcloui , at half past twelve. The 
road led by the walls of Kauzeroon , and through the plain, until we came 
to a causeway called the Poul-aub-guinee, which is reckoned two 
fur sungs from Kauzeroon. From this spot (which is a swamp forming 
the termination of the lake from the southward) the road begun to wind 
up a high mountain called the Dockter or “ Daughter.” Over this, in 
the most difficult parts of the ascent, a road has been made, and parapet 
walls built to screen the traveller from the dangers of the precipices, 
which in some parts form ,an abrupt boundary to the road. Formerly 
this road was singularly dangerous, and all the exertions and ingenuity 
of the caravan drivers and leaders of mules were necessary to conduct 
their animals in safety to the bottom. We were told that the driver, 
when his mule was about descending a very steep part of the pass, 
would seize it by the tail, and then with all his might hold it fast, until 
the animal had found a footing for his fore feet, when again he helped 
it in the same manner, until it was in perfect safety. We reached the 
summit of the Dockter at about half past ten, and from thence we 
marched over a better road, until we descended into the small and 
beautiful valley of Abcloui. It is thickly covered with oak trees, which, 
though of a small kind indeed, must in summer render it a verdant and 
refreshing spot. 
Whilst we were at dinner it was announced to the Envoy, that one 
of his old Persian friends Mahomed Reza Kiian was about to meet 
him on his route; that he was the bearer of good news, and would 
therefore demand his moocljdehlook , the customary present. The news 
was the defeat of the Russians at Erivcin , whose loss in killed and 
* “ From the groves of orange trees at Kauzeroon^ the bees cull a celebrated honey,” 
