236 
SCENERY ON THE AHAR RIVER. 
written Tiglath Pileser. Its relative position with Khalcal and Abhar 
would also favour the conjecture. 
From Ahar we went to Kishlak, and travelled all the way on the 
banks of the Ahar River. We found the whole of the open country 
overspread with the tents of the Eelauts, whose cattle were dispersed 
on all the surrounding hills. Our camp was pitched in a beautiful spot 
close to the river, that takes its course through a deep glen, on the 
side of which, though out of sight of our encampment, stood the vil¬ 
lage of Kishlak. The distant mountains to the southward and east¬ 
ward were covered with underwood; a species of vegetation to which 
our eyes were totally unaccustomed in the barren landscape of Persia. 
A peasant informed me that the Ahar river joins a stream at Vergahan, 
six fursungs distant, called the Kara Sou, which flows into the Araxes 
at Hassan Khan senger in Moghan, seven to eight menzils (stages) 
distant. 
On the 13 th we reached Ahmedbeglou, after a tedious ride of 
twenty miles. We rose at three in the morning, and our first operation 
was to lose the road among a labyrinth of mountains ; for which our 
guide got from the Mehmandar the usual Persian acknowledgment of 
a good beating. Our whole party was obliged to scramble over 
some untrodden country to get into the right road ; but we were 
soon put into good humour by the beautiful scenery which the Ahar 
river presented to us, as it wound beautifully through a wild valley of 
rock, and shelving banks. Several eagles were seen perched on the 
summits of the highest rocks, at which the Persians, who are always 
ready primed and loaded, unsuccessfully fired off their muskets. Having 
left the mountains we entered upon a plain, at the farthest end of which 
was Ahmedbeglou. We encamped on it, and our white tents were discern¬ 
ible from a very considerable distance. This plain was also covered by 
the Eelauts and their flocks. We were stopped in our progress by an over¬ 
flow of water, which proceeded from the inundation of rice fields, whose 
superfluous waters had so deluged the road, as to oblige us to make long 
circuits to reach our tents. Close to our encampment flowed the Mesh- 
kin chai, a small river so called from the district through which it runs. 
