DEHKHARGAN. 
288 
As we skirted the bases of the same range of hills which encompass 
Tabriz, and which are a branch of the mountain of Sahand, we observed 
a village with cultivated fields, in every nook that could boast of a 
stream. Uz-Koh, that gives its name to the valley and the district, 
surprises those who are accustomed only to the dreary landscape of the 
rest of Persia; for its hills are clothed with wood; its villages are im- 
bosomed amongst trees, and its productive and laboured soil, put us in 
mind of countries where man is “ Like a tree planted by the rivers of 
“ wateri that bringeth forth his fruit in season, whose leaf shall not wither, 
“ and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper'^ Although there is a want of 
large and spreading trees, yet the snowy heights of Sahand that tower 
above the plain give it a character of great picturesque effect. 
The next day we reached Dehkhargan, distant eighteen miles from 
Khosrou Shah. Hitherto we had kept the mountain of Tabriz in 
view, but we lost it on turning an elbow of the range of hills on our 
left, where it bore N.E. from us by compass. We ascended a height 
hoping to get a view of the lake of Shahee, because we were informed, 
that on this side of it its banks are steep and its water low, but we were 
disappointed. At four miles from Khosrou Shah, we passed the village 
of Elkhi-jee, and there gave chase to a fox with our greyhounds. We 
also saw immense flocks of the bokara cara; a bird sly and cau¬ 
tious to those who attempt to approach it on foot with a gun, but un¬ 
mindful of those who make their advances on horseback. Not far from 
Dehkhargan, the lake is at length seen spreading its blue waters through 
a wild succession of high and rugged lands, of which an immense snow- 
topt range which borders its horizon forms the most sublime feature. 
Dehkhargan is a walled town, whose interior is as much occupied by 
trees and gardens as it is by houses. The approaches to it are very 
picturesque. Our tents having been pitched on its farthest extremity 
we were obliged to traverse the streets, and to our surprise, instead of 
seeing as usual a face peeping over a wall here, or a solitary group 
there, we found it thronged with people, whose busy looks informed us 
that something more than ordinary was going forwards. It was a roozee 
o 0 2 
