APPENDIX. 
411 
both names), and then the road led us N. W. by W. up the valley, with the 
stream flowing on our right hand. We then changed our direction to N. W. by 
N. for eight miles, the last three of which were through a very difficult pass. 
The village of Masarood contains about sixty families, lately arrived from the 
Karabagh, and the mine is about one mile distant, Altliough the quality of 
the stone be good, yet its distance from fuel, and the badness of the roads 
leading to it, render it less available than the one at Dombre. The colour of 
the ore is of a dark grey. In no part of the world, did we conceive it possible 
that a greater abundance of iron ore can exist, than in this range of mountains. 
For many fursungs the soil appears to consist of no other stone. 
“ From Masarood to Casin a road leads directly over the mountains, 
said to be twenty-four miles in length, at present (28th of April), it is im¬ 
passable on account of the snow, and at all times it is very difficult of pas¬ 
sage. We traced back our former route, six miles S. E. by S., and then ascended 
the mountains S. W. by W. a distance of three miles. This was followed by a 
very steep descent of two miles in the same direction, which was succeeded by 
an ascent of two miles S. W. over another hill. We then entered the plain of 
Ahar, which bore S. S5'’ E. distant eighteen miles ; Casin bore W. S. W. dis¬ 
tant twenty-two miles. On this part of the route we passed many small vil¬ 
lages, the road laying over a flat country, with the Ahar river flowing on our 
left. Casin contains about 200 families, has a mosque, and is the principal 
place of Desmaun, a district of Karabagh, which extends to the Araxes, and 
possesses about an hundred villages. This stage was thirty-two miles in length, 
twelve of which were over very difficult roads. 
“ From Casin the direction of the-road for four miles was N. 70° W., then 
N. W. four miles, and then to the village of Hurwanna N. N. W. three miles, 
the latter part leading through a pass in the mountains. From Casin to Hur¬ 
wanna there are two roads, the one to Astramal a large village, beaiing N. or 
N. by W. over the mountains, but difficult of access. The other, more to the 
right, through a narrow valley, which might be rendered practicable for car¬ 
riages. A considerable stream which flowed on our left rises near Hurwanna, 
receives many other streams, and falls into the Araxes at Curdasht. The dis¬ 
tance we travelled from Casin to Curdasht is twenty-three miles ; by the lower 
road it is twenty-six miles ; the two roads separate at Harwanna. At Astramal, 
which is situated two miles to the right of the direct road, there are many 
gardens, and plantations of tobacco, the produce of which is much esteemed 
throughout Aderbigian. On leaving Astramal on a bearing of W. for two 
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