É. Apor (ed.): Stein, Aurel: Old Routes of Western Iran. (Budapest Oriental Reprints, Ser. B 2.)
Chapter I.—In Westernmost Färs
76 IN WESTERNMOST FA RS [Chap. I bridges at Tang-i-Brln, Khairäbäd, Arrajän, etc., to be described further on, that there can be little doubt about this bridge, too, dating from the early period of Arab domination. 5 Hence it may be safely identified with " the bridge of remarkable construction and mighty dimensions ." which is mentioned by Yäqüt and before him by MuqaddasT as on the way from Arrajän to Naubandagän. 6 The use of the road diverging through the Fahliün and Shäpür valleys towards Käzarün and Shlräz for early medieval traffic is well attested by the Arab geographers. It is also distinctly easier, though much longer than the one leading up the Tang-i-khäs through the ' Persian Gates '. Hence it can scarcely be subject to doubt that this was the ' main road ' by which " Alexander sent off the baggage trains, the Thessalian cavalry, the mercenaries, and all the other heavier-armed troops of his army with Parmenio " 7 Continuing our march 2 miles farther along the foot of low hills known as Köh-i-Döl, we reached the group of three wrenched hamlets collectively called Fahliün. Here a visit was paid to the military officer maintaining order among the settled Mämasänls. Then crossing a saddle in the low ridge round which the Fahliün river farther east makes its sharp westerly bend, to be mentioned presently, we went on for some 3 miles to the group of hamlets known as Jinjün. At the westernmost of these two bases of black marble-like 5 See below, pp. 48 sqq., 71 sqq., 82 sqq. 6 Cf. Schwarz, Iran im Mittelalter, p. 38. The place al-Khubadhän, near which the bridge is stated to have stood, may safely be located at the walled village of Tul-i-gar occupying a small mound. The identity of the river of al-Khubadhän with the Fahliün river was correctly recognized by Tomaschek, Zur historischen Topographie von Persien, i. p. 176, quoted ibid. 1 See Arrian, Anabasis, III. xviii. 1 ; also above, p. 19.
