PLAIN OF SALMOS. 
597 
zig-zag pass. For rather more than four miles we now skirted 
its edge, the naked mountains shooting up close on our left. 
This longer companionship by its bright side, seemed that of 
our adieu; for almost immediately at the termination of the 
four miles, we took leave of the lake entirely, turning off due 
west, into the bosom of an extensive' plain. High mountains 
bounded it to the north; but all between, seemed rich, verdant 
country; and, on enquiry, I found I was now entering the 
wealthy district of Salmos. Having traversed its cultivated and 
level ground for nearly four miles, (though here and there it 
exhibited the too usual shades in the fairest Persian landscape, 
deserted villages, and partial waste,) we drew towards a narrow, 
but level dell, formed and divided by detached masses of the 
rocky mountain stretching out into the plain. Our course lay 
within it for about twenty minutes, when we arrived at the 
entrance of a fine rural-looking valley to the south-west, and 
riding up it, soon reached the village of Tamar. We had been 
marching five hours and a half, over a distance called four far- 
sangs from Goorchin Kala. 
This was our purposed menzil; and not far distant, the people 
told me I might see a curious group of men cut in stone, on 
the face of one of the mountains. Having rested myself awhile, 
I set off, attended by one of the villagers, in search of this piece 
of sculpture. About two miles from the village, and along the 
great plain of Salmos, rise several detached rocky mountains. 
On the southern face of one of these, and a good way up the 
precipice, the rock has been smoothed for the length of sixteen 
feet, and there I found a very rude piece of workmanship, 
representing four figures, two of which are equestrian. (See 
Plate LXXXII.) Rough as it is, the style is similar to that of 
