Journeys in Persia and Kurdistan, Volume 2 (of 2) Including a Summer in the Upper Karun Region and a Visit to the Nestorian Rayahs

A vivid travel memoir carries listeners across a scorching Persian summer, where the sky blazes like brass and the earth radiates heat long after sunset. The narrator describes the relentless heat, swarms of insects, and the stark contrast to imagined Edinburgh breezes, while guiding us over the high passes of the Naghun and through the dry valleys of Seligun. Detailed observations of the landscape—mountain ranges that never quite touch permanent snow, the winding Karun River, and the shriveled Ardal plateau—paint a picture both beautiful and unforgiving.

Interwoven with the geography are encounters with local figures such as the modest chief Aziz Khan and the nomadic Ilyat flocks that dominate the scenery. The narrative captures the flora of the high ravines, the remnants of deserted villages, and the rhythm of daily life in remote Kurdish settlements. Illustrated with period maps and sketches, the work offers an intimate glimpse into a world where travel demands endurance, curiosity, and a steady tread through heat‑scarred earth.