ZENJIREH. 
303 
We proceeded the next day on the skirts of the plain to Khoshk Se¬ 
rai, a pretty village situated at the termination of the slope of moun¬ 
tains, and overlooked by a remarkable rock, of a conical shape, distinct 
from the surrounding lands, and very much resembling the Sugar-loaf 
mountain at the entrance of Rio di Janeiro, in the Brazils. This rock the 
natives call Ketch calehsi, or the Mountain of Goats, because it is said 
that none but goats can climb it. 
On the 30th, nearly on the same direction we pitched in the bosom 
of the mountains at Zenjireh, a village presenting itself beautifully 
amongst rocky highlands of the most picturesque forms. Indeed 
the mountains here did not wear that volcanic and barren appearance 
which they do almost throughout Persia. They were green to the very 
summits, and some heavy showers that had fallen in the night, had 
given them an appearance of freshness, doubly beautiful when relieved 
by an occasional mass of rock, or a broad stratum of red earth. 
This village which is surrounded by high mountains is said to be very 
sultry, but we were fortunate enough to find it otherwise, for during 
the whole of the day the air was refreshed by constant showers, whilst 
thunder was resounding through all the adjacent vallies. 
We left the plain on the 31st, and wound through wild and rude 
mountains to the village of Valdian, the situation of which was per¬ 
fectly beautiful. At six miles and three quarters by the perambulator, 
from Zenjireh, we got a view of Mount Ararat, which then bore from 
us by compass N. 28° W. and a back view of the conical hill of Ketch 
caleshi, gave me a long line of bearing, highly useful in the construc¬ 
tion of my map. Persia is very favourable to geographical observations, 
for it is every where furnished with prominent objects, such as the 
mountains of Ararat, Sahand, Savalan, Demawend, and Alwend; all 
of which afford good points for fixing the relative position of places. 
This part of the country abounds in wild hogs, and in such numbers 
that the Prince lately killed eighteen in the open country in one hunt¬ 
ing party. The peasants, for the protection of their corn and cotton- 
fields destroy them wherever they can, but they universally refrain from 
eating them. One of our servants started a large hog, (by his account 
