COURDISH VILLAGERS. 
555 
recrossing, set us again within what is called the line of Azer- 
bijan. It receives that appellation from being more immediately 
under the influence of Persia than the district just on the other 
side of the stream; but the whole country, until it fall into the 
wide champaign to the north-west, is inhabited by Courds. 
After ascending the hills on the opposite side of the vale, our 
course ran along high ground for another hour, when we reached 
our halting-place, the village of Taskund, distant from Kerefto 
about twelve miles. It consists of a few straggling huts lying- 
in the hollow of a jungle sort of ravine, and overshadowed by 
the bold rocks which nearly closed over its head at a height of 
several hundred feet. These poured forth the living spring 
through many of their mossy clefts; which numerous rills, 
collecting into a small and rapid stream, after flowing through 
the glen and supplying all its purposes of husbandry, carried its 
sparkling little urn to augment the ampler Sarak. One of my 
escort rode forward to announce my approach to the inhabitants ; 
and when I arrived, I found a tent pitched for my reception, 
with some groups of Courdish horsemen seated and standing- 
near it, with their animals grazing at a little distance. When 
I retired to rest, the chief of my escort, without having ap¬ 
prised me of his caution, had ordered some of the villagers to 
keep watch over our quarters during the night; having some 
suspicion that these wild horsemen, who were merely halting like 
ourselves, might have an eye to my property. This supernu¬ 
merary act of care, had likely proved of most disagreeable con¬ 
sequence ; for during the darkness and stillness of the night I 
was more than once disturbed by the low whisperings of persons 
without the tent, then was more completely aroused by slow 
footsteps stealing near my place of rest; I listened, and heard 
4 b 2 
