UPPER KOUROOD. 
395 
our way, we crossed a burying-ground; and, amongst the numerous 
rustic monuments which marked the humble graves, 1 observed 
a rude tomb, roughly sculptured, with something like the form 
of a lion, and a scimitar lying by its side, in relievo. On 
inquiring of the native who was our guide to the Upper Kourood, 
what he knew about this stone, he told us it was extremely 
ancient, and covered the remains of some great Pelhiva; meaning 
a warrior of the earliest ages of Persia ; that appellation being 
generally restricted to the heroic times of the first Cyrus, and 
his immediate descendants. 
Interesting as all these objects were ; and though at every turn 
some new proof presented itself of the industry of the inhabit¬ 
ants, yet they had not subdued the ruggedness of the road; and 
our horses, strained in climbing the steeps, with those of my com¬ 
pany who cared less about “ the wonderful, the wild,” than their 
master, tugged forward nearly as weary as our mules. After hard 
breathing, we reached the upper village a little before five in the 
morning ; having travelled between seven and eight farsangs in 
nine hours, over, indeed, one of the most romantic and adventur¬ 
ous roads I had seen, since passing the rocky wilds of the Terek. 
May 21. All around us, in our little Arcadian lodging, was in 
unison with the rural simplicity of the scene ; and every sylvan 
luxury which the place afforded, were bounteously spread before 
us ; particularly, a variety of dried fruits of delicious flavour. One 
of the great sources of this valley’s extraordinary prosperity, is 
derived from these sort of preserves; which the inhabitants pre¬ 
pare, by a certain process while exposing them when perfectly ripe, 
and gathered, to the sun ; and which they afterwards sell, at very 
profitable prices, to agents from all parts of the empire. My weary 
party soon recovered their fatigued spirits, with such fare, and in 
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