É. Apor (ed.): Stein, Aurel: Old Routes of Western Iran. (Budapest Oriental Reprints, Ser. B 2.)
Chapter II. —In Kohgalu Tracts
62 IN KOHGALU TRACTS [Chap. II is supposed to mark a great treasure of gold, and is assumed, perhaps by a ' popular etymology ', to account for the name of the mountain (ashrafi, a gold coin). I had been told of ruins near the western extremity of this rock wall, and on approaching the mouth of the narrow gorge of Tang-i-Maliün at the end of the cliff, I came upon remains evidently belonging to a settlement of Sasanian times. They proved to extend for a distance of close on a mile from east to west over the alluvial fan below the mouth of the gorge and for about one-third of a mile from north to south where widest (see Plan 3). To the east of a dry torrent bed descending from the narrow mouth of the gorge there were to be seen only scattered debris heaps from completely decayed walls. But to the west of this there emerged among the broken walls of many smaller dwellings several ruined structures of some size. One such ruin, /, somewhat better preserved than the rest near the easternmost limit of the site (Fig. 18), attracted special attention. A preliminary examination disclosed unmistakable structural features of Sasanian character. After a rough sketch plan had been made by dusk we had to proceed some 5 miles to the south in order to reach a camping-place with drinkable water at the village of Saräb-nänis. This place o,wes its existence to the forcible settlement, effected here some three years before, of some forty families of Kohgalu tribesmen previously nomadic. The water from a fine spring about half a mile below the village flows on to broken ground to the south-east, while the land assigned to the settlers some 3 miles to the north depends for its cultivation on rainfall only.
