Sec. i] REMAINS OF GALEHDAR 223
Fars. Equally interesting is it to find evidence of relation both with the Susa and the Balûchistan painted pottery indicated by the bands of horns, apparently of mountain sheep, found as a decorative motif in iv. 16, 17, 21, 22, 25; v. 46, and by a row of ducks, iii. 7. An animal figure, incomplete and hence doubtful, appears also in v. 46. Finally may be mentioned a terra-cotta bird's head with beak, x. 12, modelled in the round.
The second day was drawing towards dusk when in section xii, at a depth of about 4 feet, there were revealed the remains of a body in a seated position with legs drawn up to the chest. No funeral deposits, however, were found near what obviously was a burial coeval with the prehistoric relics of the mound. It was not possible to clear the body at the time without delaying our return to camp until nightfall. An intelligent headman from Asir, who had shown interest in the excavation, promised protection for this interesting find. But on returning to the mound next morning we found the body completely smashed to pieces. All day groups of armed men from Asir and neighbouring hamlets gathered at the mound and closely watched our proceedings. It only occurred to me later that these visitors were probably attracted by the hope of our hitting upon the buried treasure for which, no doubt, we were supposed to be searching. This expectation might well have been an inducement to postpone any attempt at plunder, otherwise easy to effect, until the treasure had been raised.
On regaining our camp at the fort of Nauba I found to my relief that, in response to our appeal, Sohrab Khan of Warawi had sent an adequate number of donkeys under a strong guard of his armed retainers. Their arrival rendered a move towards Ishkanan possible, and this appeared now all the more advisable as news had arrived of a fight having taken place near Karzin between Government troops and `Ali Khan's tribal followers, with the result that the latter were now withdrawing to the south-east and seeking to extend the rising to the valleys adjoining Galehdar. While the officer in charge of our escort, fearing an attack on the way, was waiting for Sohrab Khan to accept definite responsibility for our protection, I used the time available for a survey of the interesting ruined stronghold, known as Takht-i pirist, which had attracted my attention from afar on my first visit to Haraj.
As will be seen from the sketch plan made with the plane-table and reproduced in Plan 18 the hill fastness, undoubtedly of old date, occupies a naturally strong position on the top of a steep hill spur which descends towards Haraj village. It is flanked on either side by practically unscalable cliffs falling off into deep-cut ravines. Approach to the protected top of the spur is barred on the south by a double line of wall ascending from a height of about 200 feet above the valley bottom on the west side to a level of some 330 feet, where the gate stood.
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