É. Apor (ed.): Stein, Aurel: Old Routes of Western Iran. (Budapest Oriental Reprints, Ser. B 2.)

Chapter I.—In Westernmost Färs

Sec. iv] FAHLIUN VALLEY 33 (see Sketch Map I). Its floor for close on 10 miles is a flat alluvial plain gradually widening to the north and mainly covered with rice-fields. To the east it is overlooked by the rugged table-mountain of Qal'a-siäh, similar in formation to the Qal'a-safid but lower and reported to be devoid of any trace of ancient occupation. Over an easy saddle to the east of Qal'a-siäh the old caravan route continues from the mouth of the Tang-i-Gerrau towards the northernmost portion of the Fahliün valley. The wretched habitations in the succession of hamlets passed on our way along the riverine plain bore testimony to the miserable conditions to which many years of constant insecurity and intertribal fighting had reduced the settled Mämasäni community in this naturally fertile tract. In addition to general poverty, the effects of malaria were reflected only too plainly in the appearance of the people. After some four miles our track struck the road, now made practicable for motor traffic, which leads in an open side valley southwards past the large village of Nüräbäd to Shäpür and Käzarün. Near Nüräbäd lie the decayed remains of the site of Naubandagän, which Arab geographers mention as an important town on the high-road from Khüzistän to Shäpür and thus on to Shlräz.

4 It is this road which was once served by the great ruined bridge crossing the Fahliün river at the village of Tul-i-gar. Six broken piers still rise in the wide river-bed, while others towards the right bank, as well as all the arches, have completely disappeared. The masonry of roughly hewn slabs set in regular courses and facing the concrete core of the piers resembles so closely that of the ruined 4 See Schwarz, Iran im Mittelalter, pp. 34 sq., 177. D