DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0075
chap. xiii. ALARMS.-DURBUND. 59
and the slightest sound brought the horsemen to a
halt; for we expected every moment to encounter
the Toorkmuns. After a night of such anxiety, we
beheld with pleasure the look-out towers of Dur-
bund, eleven of which crown the crest of the range,
and command its passage. We here found a few
irregular soldiers, the first subjects of the " Great
King" whom we encountered. They were dispirited
after the attack of the Toorkmuns, since this was
the party which had lost their horses, and one of
their fellow-soldiers.
After we had surmounted the pass of Durbund,
our caravan alighted in the fields beyond the fort of
Moozderan, which stands on an isolated spur of
table-land, as you descend the pass. The place
was once peopled ; but the Khan of Orgunje some
years since seized its inhabitants en masse, and razed
their defences. In repair, it might protect the road
into Persia; but a peasant cannot risk his life un-
less he receives the protection of his king. There
is a beautiful fountain of tepid water, which springs
up under Moozderan ; and makes for itself, and
some kindred streams, a channel down the valley,
where the fruit trees and gardens of the exiled in-
habitants may still be seen. It appeared a charming
spot to us after so long a sojourn among desolation.
The men on the pass showed us a cave, of which
they had many fabulous tales, describing it to be
without a termination. It was lately the scene of
great slaughter and distress, for the population re-
tired into it when pressed by the Khan of Orgunje;
and as they issued like bees from the hive, they
and the slightest sound brought the horsemen to a
halt; for we expected every moment to encounter
the Toorkmuns. After a night of such anxiety, we
beheld with pleasure the look-out towers of Dur-
bund, eleven of which crown the crest of the range,
and command its passage. We here found a few
irregular soldiers, the first subjects of the " Great
King" whom we encountered. They were dispirited
after the attack of the Toorkmuns, since this was
the party which had lost their horses, and one of
their fellow-soldiers.
After we had surmounted the pass of Durbund,
our caravan alighted in the fields beyond the fort of
Moozderan, which stands on an isolated spur of
table-land, as you descend the pass. The place
was once peopled ; but the Khan of Orgunje some
years since seized its inhabitants en masse, and razed
their defences. In repair, it might protect the road
into Persia; but a peasant cannot risk his life un-
less he receives the protection of his king. There
is a beautiful fountain of tepid water, which springs
up under Moozderan ; and makes for itself, and
some kindred streams, a channel down the valley,
where the fruit trees and gardens of the exiled in-
habitants may still be seen. It appeared a charming
spot to us after so long a sojourn among desolation.
The men on the pass showed us a cave, of which
they had many fabulous tales, describing it to be
without a termination. It was lately the scene of
great slaughter and distress, for the population re-
tired into it when pressed by the Khan of Orgunje;
and as they issued like bees from the hive, they