686 
STREAM OF ROCKNABAD. 
been sufficiently accustomed to such perilous paths, not to find 
them dangerous, repairs being so seldom attended to in this 
country, that hardly a bridge presents itself without some gap of 
dilapidation or decay. The river in this quarter, is exceedingly 
rapid, pouring along through steep and rocky banks, and making 
so tremendous a noise in its passage, that hearing it at a great 
distance, I anticipated the sight of an immense flood, instead of 
a stream hardly twenty yards across. 
From the bridge to Zergoon, we at first travelled over a 
barren valley, bounded by mountains of the same description; 
but towards the close of our day’s journey, our road turned sud¬ 
denly due west, and soon after entered the gorge of a deep and 
close dell, which led us to Zergoon, the place of our rest. The 
distance from Kanarah is only seventeen measured British miles, 
though estimated at six farsangs. 
July 2d. We left our menzil at four o’clock this morning, 
over a bad and stony road, twisting amongst rugged hills, in a 
generally south-western direction. About mid-way of our day’s 
journey we reached the Radarri , or custom-house, near which 
we crossed an inconsiderable pass, along even worse ground 
than before. Four miles further, brought us to the celebrated 
stream of Rocknabad, which, half a century ago, flowed through 
the paradise of Fars. It is now diminished to a mere rivulet, 
still, however, retaining its singular transparency, and softness to 
the taste; but the Arcadian scenery which embanked it, is 
vanished away ; nothing now distinguishes the spot, so often the 
theme of Hafiz, but the name of the river, and the brilliancy of 
its wave. In his time it ran nearer Shiraz, but neglect has 
choaked its channel in that quarter. A little onward, and 
through an opening in the mountains, the city itself appeared. 
