The Assassins' Valley and the Salambar Pass

Abstract

These were both on the other, or north-east, side. I also found a number of small tunnels or cellars. On the north-east side, close to the north-north-west end of the rock, is a natural chimney which has been carefully blocked up by masonry (see Plate 4). To judge from the amount of broken pottery lying about on the neck connecting the Rock of Alamut with the mountain side, a considerable village must once have stood there. No trace of any buildings however remains. In one respect both Mr. Ivanow and Miss Stark fared better than my companions and myself. When we first arrived at Shutur Khan on our way to Alamut, we were received with marked coldness, verging on actual hostility. We were at a loss to account for this most unusual attitude on the part of the villagers until we discovered that they had mistaken us for some conscription ofEcials who were then touring the district. Once the villagers found that we were not going to conscript them, but were merely Firangis, they received us with the kindness and hospitality usual in those parts, and the Kadkhuda insisted on acting (gratis) as our guide as far as Gazan Khan, where he introduced us to the village elders. At Gazan Khan we also met the real conscription officials, and then sat down under the shadow of some plane trees to a sumptuous lunch, in company with the village elders,the officials,and our friend the Kadkhuda of Shutur Khan.