PASS OF OURTCHINY. 
445 
catching the end of the halter, and retaining it in his mouth ; 
holding it firm, while the superior strength of the horse dragged 
him onward ; and then, pulling him in his turn, endeavoured 
to arrest the fugitive’s pace, during his bounds and sudden freaks : 
which effort of the dog’s, so far impeded the animal’s flight, as, 
at last, to allow one of my servants to seize him. A British 
bull-dog could not have shown more determination, or strength 
of mouth, at the nose of a bull, than was evinced by my slightly- 
made Persian greyhound Cooley, (the spotted,) in his contest 
with this strong, and very highly mettled horse. 
After a march of nearly five hours, we reached the mouth of a 
valley, which leads to the Pass of Ourtchiny ; going forward un¬ 
der night shadows, more gloomy than usual at this season, and at 
this hour, in Persia ; but we were in the midst of hills, that deep¬ 
ened darkness by their own black shade, and by obstructing any 
light from star or moon-beam. The road from this point, was 
rocky, steep, and rough ; literally a ladder hewn in the mountain, 
for the surer footing of the horses and beasts of burthen ; who, as 
we viewed them indistinctly from below, appeared hanging from 
the rock, in the air. Myself and Sedak Beg followed ; and thence, 
from the almost perpendicular of the first ascent, we continued 
winding upward, on a path equally dangerous, round the broken 
and projecting masses of the mountain. Having surmounted 
these difficulties, our animals halted on the summit of the pass, 
to take breath, where we found a range of small buildings; the 
guard-houses of a detachment of musketeers, stationed here to 
protect travellers from the marauding attacks of the wild 
banditti from the remoter hills, who still infest the neighbourhood. 
Certain tax-gatherers are also posted with these defenders, to 
collect a toll from merchants and caravans as they pass. The 
