CHRISTMAS-DAY. 
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from the Shahy. Almost immediately parallel with the south¬ 
eastern point of that island we began to ascend a range of hills, 
and gradually wound amongst them on a course considerably 
eastward of north, till, at the expiration of five hours, we found 
ourselves again in the heart of a thoroughly mountainous coun¬ 
try. On the side of one of these heights, flanking the entrance 
to a narrow valley on our left, we saw the quarry whence the 
celebrated transparent yellow marble of Tabreez is dug. It is 
said to be formed by the deposition of the waters from an abun¬ 
dant spring, which forces its way out from the body of the cliffs. 
As we rode on, the most picturesque rocky scenes presented 
themselves. On our right, a succession of small plains, each 
encompassed by its amphitheatre of rugged steeps, rising pile 
over pile in every possible shape of craggy wildness; some 
shot up like cones or pyramids, others into beetling forms of 
shattered ruins ; others, pointed sharp as spears, seemed piercing 
the clouds, while the rest of the same shapes traversed each 
other in all sorts of confused directions. Having pursued a 
winding path through this labyrinth of fantastic rocky scenery, 
indeed, — a place for the genii of fairy-land to wander in, — we 
issued forth into a rich and fair earthly valley, well stocked with 
gardens and villages ; and at Deygurgan, the largest of the 
latter, took up our abode for the night. We had been eight 
hours on horseback, and had travelled twenty miles. 
December 25th. 1818. — This being Christmas-day, I set off 
early, to be with my friends at least before its close. It was 
hardly seven o’clock when we started from our menzil; and 
taking a course N. 30 ° E. over a rather level country, kept the 
hills and their opening glens on our right, thick woods of fruit- 
trees fringing the skirts of the wintry heights in long black lines. 
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