364 
PASSES AI^^D VALLEYS. 
ing about three hundred paces. The mountain on each side rose 
at least two or three hundred feet over our heads, whilst a 
stream of the purest and coldest water generally filled up the road 
between the bases. Having quitted this, we entered upon a small 
open valley, through which meandered this beautiful stream ; and about 
a mile further, we again entered a pass similar to the former, but still 
more extraordinary. Water oozed from the highest summits, falling 
in small showers, whilst on both sides were large natural excava¬ 
tions and refreshing grottoes. The Persians, who generally are indif¬ 
ferent to the sublime and the picturesque, were here all extacy and asto¬ 
nishment. The King who had previously pointed out the place, had 
said, “ Go, see the wonderful work of God.” Having traversed the 
second pass, we ascended a steep declivity, with the stream roaring in 
occasional cataracts through a very contracted bed, and came to another 
gorge more open than the others, on the rocks of which we saw large 
flocks of mountain goats, jumping from one crag to another over the 
most awful precipices in a manner truly astonishing. We succeeded in 
killing one, but skilful gunners might have destroyed twenty. 
The whole of these passes and valleys are called Sawachi, and are 
one of the most favourite hunting places of the King. When he makes 
his summer excursions to the eastward of Teheran, he generally passes 
a week or ten days in this spot, for the sole purpose of enjoying its 
delightful water and climate, and of hunting the numerous goats and 
deer with which it abounds. Firouz Koh is under the government of 
Abdullah Khan, whose place of residence, or his hJioneh as it is called, 
is Arjumend, four fursungs north of it. He has the command of a 
thousand horse. The confines of Mazanderan are about that distance 
from Firouz Koh, and the country there begins to be covered with 
wood. We learnt the derivation of Mazanderan at this place.— Maz, 
in the patois of the country, means a boundary, and anderan^ the common 
Persian word 'within, would give it the meaning of 'within the boundary. 
On the 24th July, we started at a quarter before two in the morning, 
and reached Anasseran at a quarter after ten ; and deducting from this 
time one hour for loss of road, by which we deviated one fursung, 
