VALE OF HAROUN-ABAD. 
205 
long, steep, and rugged description ; and that surmounted, our 
descent was not less difficult into an extensive vale, bounded to 
the south-west by mountains, over whose heads appeared suc¬ 
cessive piles of so great a height and grandeur, I could have no 
hesitation in believing them to be the most western branch of the 
far-famed Zagros of the Greeks. We journeyed through a valley, 
by the side of a narrow river called the Gawvanan, which, with 
two others, called the Kinamossi, and Haroun-sou, form a junc¬ 
tion about two farsangs to the southward; whence flowing on¬ 
ward in a fine current of waters towards Louristan, they fall 
ultimately into the Kara-sou. Our total march of this day, 
was six farsangs, bringing us to Haroun-abad a little before 
twelve at noon. 
October 1st. — At a very early hour this morning we left our 
menzil, taking a line of march north 70° west, for.a distance of 
six miles ; part of which, on a good road, speedily brought us to 
the termination of the vale, at which point it narrows into a 
valley bulwarked by craggy mountains on each side, while the 
sloping banks at their base are covered with green meadow-land. 
This cheerful track led us to our lately usual mountain-road, 
winding amongst and over a chain of low hills. These were 
thickly covered with woods of a sort of stunted oak, not growing- 
higher than twenty feet, and with round bushy heads. A couple 
of hours’ ride through this wild forest-like scenery brought us 
forth into an open plain, bounded on all sides by mountains. 
Our way now lay along the base of the heights we had just 
descended, and which brought us to the village and caravansary 
of Karund. They are romantically situated, within a large rocky 
chasm, and hidden from the anxious look-out of the weary tra¬ 
veller, till he comes direct in front of his wished-for menzil. 
