É. Apor (ed.): Stein, Aurel: Old Routes of Western Iran. (Budapest Oriental Reprints, Ser. B 2.)
Chapter I.—In Westernmost Färs
44 IN WESTERNMOST FA RS [Chap. I The valley of Deh-i-nau into which the ' Pass of the Stone Wall ' led us is much smaller than that of Fahliün but is abundantly watered, and with plenty of low grass cropping up on its floor after recent rain it looked very attractive. But this naturally fertile ground is so poorly occupied at present that it would have proved impracticable without incurring great delay to collect an adequate number of labourers for useful trial excavation at a number of small mounds in the upper portion of the valley. At two of these, known as Tul-i-Burg and Tul-i-Bundu respectively, small fragments of painted pottery with patterns recalling those from chalcolithic sites of Färs as well as a few worked flints picked up on the surface indicated prehistoric occupation. The mounds rise to a height of 15-18 feet and stretch for a length of some 160 yards. Further down, near the hamlet of Mansüräbäd, debris heaps from stone-built dwellings stretching for close on half a mile along the rocky foot of the northern hill-chain mark a considerable old settlement. A fine rivulet issuing here from springs feeds a winding lakelet of limpid water known as Shahr-i-Lüt, where popular belief, obviously influenced by the biblical legend, localizes a village destroyed for its evil ways. The sight of limpid water contrasted so delightfully with the aridity of the hillsides that it might have appeared more suited to invite bathing nymphs than to swallow up evil-doers. protected by rocky heights (V. iii. 4-11). It shows a distinct resemblance to the above-mentioned accounts by telling of a small force which, sent over a difficult path through the mountains, gained a commanding height above the town and helped to secure its capture after an arduous siege by Alexander. But details concerning this siege cannot be reconciled with the forcing of a mountain defile. Is it possible that in Curtius's relation two separate operations on Alexander's march have been treated as one exploit ?
