Storia do Mogor 40.5

40.5

During our journey from Shiraz as far as Lar, we were in excellent health, but were in some concern lest we should not find water for drinking; for on the roads the water which is used is that collected during the rainy season in great cisterns. The earth being salt, the water which flows over it acquires the same property, and therefore is not potable. For this reason they preserve water in cisterns, in which there are all kinds of filth, and it is only out of absolute necessity that one feels inclined to drink. In spite of this defect of water the country was sufficiently humid, and many places had their gardens of oranges [35], of palm-trees, and date-trees, bearing dates. In Lar we obtained sufficient food-supplies, but water only of the quality already described. There was water below ground in channels, as is the custom over almost the whole of Persia. The fort of Lar is placed upon a small hill standing in the midst of four other hills of the same size. Thus the fort in time of war is in want of protection from good walls and dependent edifices, for any enemy who occupied the aforesaid hills could easily attack the fort.