446 
ENTERS THE MOUNTAINOUS TRACTS 
the remains of a strong wall, well calculated to bulwark the 
pass from top to bottom. In former times it must have been 
united across the opening by more building, and probably with 
massy gates. There cannot be a doubt of this being the for¬ 
midable pass through which Heraclius marched after the fall of 
Bustajird, in his route to Tabreez, at the close of his third ex¬ 
pedition. Indeed, it is the only road he could have taken 
to arrive at Siozuros, (now called Shar-i-zool,) the ancient 
capital of western Courdistan ; and since the Roman swords 
glittered on these rocky summits, many a flash from both 
Turkish and Persian sabres have gleamed here, disputing the 
passage on similar errands. Only a few years ago, this spot, 
so capable of an almost impregnable defence, was suddenly lost 
by its native people; who, though commanded by their own 
chief, Abdallah Pasha, most inexplicably allowed themselves 
to be turned by a pasha of Bagdad; whose brave followers, most 
of them Georgians, had scaled the precipices of the mountain to 
the south. A battery, which the Gourds erected at the time, 
still remains at about fifty yards before the opening. Having 
entered it, we continued our way between its wild cliff-embattled 
walls, through the very heart of the mountains, till they ex¬ 
panded into a valley, which at first was stony and arid ; but a 
little onward, we found fine pastures, and flocks of sheep and 
goats feeding on every green track. We passed a village on our 
right, called Durgazeen ; and a second, about a mile farther, 
called Lazian, on our left. Close to the latter, passes the road 
leading to the town of Gazian, which is situated about an hour’s 
march to the north-east. As we looked forward, the Pera-mi- 
goodry mountain, now not far distant, rose most magnificently 
N. 70° E. from us. A stream called the Koulabore enriches this 
