498 
LAKE OF OUROOMIA. 
us, in distinct objects. Instead of one wide pale tract, we saw 
it diversified with every mark of populous human habitation; 
and in the center of a long stretch of forest-land, rose the tur- 
reted walls of a town called Binaub. After journeying five 
hours, we passed another town, though a small one, called Kar- 
teppa, from an artificial hill close to it; and a mile and a half 
farther, brought us to Adjebshir, our purposed menzil, one of 
the many fine villages which compose a little district called 
Shiraz. When we halted for the night, we had marched fifteen 
miles in six hours on a good road, and at a pace I may describe 
as a fast walk; though not quite quick enough for an English¬ 
man’s usual habits in such winter weather. 
December 24th. — Renewed our journey to-day at 8 o’clock, 
being eager to reach Tabreez in time for passing Christmas-day 
amongst my own countrymen. Our course lay for some hours 
along the plain, at the foot of the hills on our right, while the 
north-east shore of the lake stretched its dark line on our left, 
at about two farsangs and a half distance. We then crossed one 
of the branches of the hills, and riding along their summits in 
our old northerly direction, at last gradually descended through 
a sort of defile towards the Oiiroomia. It brought us within 
three miles of the lake, emerging from our pass at the base of 
the hills, which are here called the Jimsaun. During the winter 
months this part of the lake becomes nearly dry, leaving the 
eastern side of Shahy, its largest island, in a peninsular state, 
only divided from the firm land by the marshy bed of the re¬ 
ceded waters. The island is called twenty-five miles in circum¬ 
ference, and possesses mountains, so abundant in wood, that the 
people of the plain are continually crossing the morass to cut 
fuel for the supply of Tabreez. The lake takes one of its names 
