Mârâgâ--Naser-ood-Deen--Persian Servants--Jaghatty
River--Kûrdistan--Robbery--Arrival at Sennah--Ardelan--Conclusion.
Mârâgâ, where we halted some days, is a beautiful town, famous in
eastern history as the place where Hoolakoo, the grandson of Chenghiz,
relaxed from his warlike toils, and assembled round him men of the
first genius of the age; who have commemorated his love of science, and
given him more fame as its munificent patron than he acquired by all
his conquests. Amongst these was Naser-ood-Deen, who, in the thirteenth
century formed his celebrated astronomical tables.
We approached our encampment by a range of low hills, the top of which
had been levelled to aid Naser-ood-Deen, and other astronomers, in
making their observations. We traced distinctly the foundations of the
observatory, which had been constructed for the favourite philosopher
of the Tartar prince. In this observatory there was, according to one
of the best Mahomedan works,[160] a species of apparatus to represent
the celestial sphere, with the signs of the zodiac, the conjunctions,
transits, and revolutions of the heavenly bodies. Through a perforation
in the dome, the rays of the sun were admitted, so as to strike upon
certain lines on the pavement in a way to indicate, in degrees and
minutes, the altitude and declination of that luminary during every
season, and to mark the time and hour of the day throughout the year.
It was further supplied with a map of the terrestrial globe, in all
its climates or zones, exhibiting the several regions of the habitable
world, as well as a general outline of the ocean, with the numerous
islands contained in its bosom; and, according to the Mahomedan author,
all these were so perspicuously arranged and delineated, as at once to
remove, by the clearest demonstration, every doubt from the mind of the
student!
After contemplating for some time what remained of a work, which had
been dedicated to celestial objects, amidst scenes of rapine and
bloodshed, we were reminded that we had terrestrial occupations to
attend to, being called to breakfast at our tents. These were pitched
on the green banks of the river that flows past Mârâgâ, and over which
are two admirable bridges of six elliptical arches each, built by the
present governor, Ahmed Khan, a nobleman of high rank and influence.
On approaching the tents we were met by fishermen with some trout
carried on willow branches, which were passed through their gills,
exactly in the same manner as is customary in Scotland. Those of our
mission, and amongst them the Elchee, who belonged to that country,
loudly expressed their delight with the willows, the fish, and the
clear stream from which they were taken. We had the trout fried
for breakfast; and during that meal, Persia, its kings, princes,
astronomers, armies--all were forgotten, and nothing was talked of but
the Esk, the Ewis, the Liddle, and the Teviot; important rivers no
doubt to the natives of Eskdale, Ewisdale, Liddisdale, and Teviotdale,
but probably as little known to many of my English readers, as to the
inhabitants of Aderbejan.
I visited a small tomb whilst at Mârâgâ, in which, according to common
report, the remains of Hoolakoo are interred, as also those of his
Christian queen Delghooz Khâtoon. To this lady, even Mahomedan writers
ascribe some of the most munificent actions of her Moghul lord, who
was attached to her in a very extraordinary degree. She is reputed to
have been a great proficient in science, and to have honoured with her
peculiar patronage and favour the celebrated Naser-ood-Deen, of whom I
have already spoken. The reputation of this great man had nearly proved
his ruin. A young chief, of a gloomy disposition, belonging to the
dreaded sect of Hoosein, who dwelt in the north-western mountains of
Persia, having heard of his fame, and thinking to profit by his wisdom,
commanded that he should be brought to his presence. The mandate was
instantly obeyed; for his followers gave a devoted obedience to their
chief, being fanatics of the same sect as the subjects of the Old Man
of the Mountain,[161] whose history is familiar to all readers of the
wars of the crusades.
A few men were sent in disguise to Bokhara, and Naser-ood-Deen was
seized and carried off while walking in his garden. He was made over
from one party to another, till he found himself at the "Eagle's
Nest:" so the residence of the young prince, on the top of a high
mountain, was called. His value, we are told, was fully appreciated
at this barbarous court. While, however, they honoured him with every
attention, they took precautions to prevent all possibility of escape.
It was during this confinement that he wrote the celebrated treatise on
ethics,[162] which has raised his fame as high for philosophy as for
astronomy.
The desire of liberating a genius of whom his country was justly proud,
was, we are told, one of the principal motives which led Hoolakoo to
attack and destroy this abode of dreaded assassins;[163] and when
their boasted Eagle's Nest was taken, the emperor rejoiced less in its
capture, than in having released Naser-ood-Deen, who was immediately
invested with a dress of honour, and promoted to high employment. But
it was to the favour and patronage of the Christian princess Delghooz
Khâtoon, that this philosopher owed the opportunities he enjoyed at
Mârâgâ, of making his name coeval with that of oriental science.
No less than five of my friends, who had been long absent on their
travels, joined us at Mârâgâ. Four of them I could hardly recognize,
being dressed in Persian clothes, and having large whiskers and long
beards. They told us wondrous tales of Seestan, Balochistan, Hamadân,
and other countries in which they had been. We were now a party of
fourteen, but we did not remain long together: some were detached to
drill Persian soldiers, while others were sent to survey and report
upon the soil and population of different districts of this once famous
kingdom.
The Elchee had returned from his first mission by the route of
Hamadân: he now determined to go to Bagdad by that of Kûrdistan,
the ancient Carduchia, a province to which the sword and the pen
of Xenophon have given celebrity. I was delighted at the prospect
of visiting this country, which I found, by a Persian History[164]
belonging to the Elchee, had a particular claim to the attention of
the Christian world. It was the birthplace of the famous Saladin,[165]
whose sword arrested the progress of the conquerors of Palestine.
According to my author, Shadi Ben Mirvan, a native of Kûrdistan, was
kutwal or magistrate of Tekreet.[166] In this office he was succeeded
by his eldest son, Nizâm-ood-Deen Ayoob, who was compelled to leave
the country in consequence of his younger brother, Assad-ood-Deen,
having, in defence of an injured female, killed a man of a powerful
family. The governor of the province is said to have admired the
spirit and humanity which prompted this deed; but being unable to
protect the brothers against the relations of the deceased, he
recommended and aided their flight. They went first to Moosul,[167]
and thence to Balbec, the prince of which, Noor-ood-Deen, was an
intimate ally of Azad Ismael, the Waly of Egypt, who was then warring,
according to the Mahomedan writer, against the accursed infidels of
Europe! Noor-ood-Deen, pleased with the bold, manly character of
Assad-ood-Deen, sent him in command of his forces to Egypt; where, our
Eastern author tells us, he rose so high in the favour of the Waly,
that he employed him to put to death his vizier, and rewarded him
with the vacant office! He died soon after,[168] and his high station
devolved upon his nephew Saladin, son of Nizâm-ood-Deen Ayoob.
The young Saladin is described by this author in glowing colours. His
qualities were of the highest order; even in youth he soon outstript
all competitors. He became the sole manager of affairs in Egypt under
the title of Mallik Nasser: he wrote to the prince of Balbec to permit
his father to join him, and on the twenty-fourth day of Rejib, in
the year of the Hegira 565, the old man, who a few years before had
considered himself and his family ruined, on being compelled to abandon
the office of a petty magistrate, was met and welcomed at some distance
from his son's palace by the Waly of Egypt; for that prince thought he
could not too highly honour the parent of the man, to whom he ascribed
the safety and glory of his country.
Saladin wished to make over his station to his father; but the latter
declined the offer, and continued, during the three years he lived,
without any public employment. The Waly of Egypt having died, Saladin,
already in possession of the power, succeeded to the name of sovereign
of that kingdom. The riches of which he became possessed are minutely
described by the Persian author. Amongst them was a staff of emeralds
of extraordinary value, and a library of one hundred thousand select
volumes.
Noor-ood-Deen, the prince of Balbec, who had raised this family,
becoming jealous of Saladin's power, endeavoured to destroy him; but
all his efforts were defeated, and at his death Syria was added to
Egypt.
Thus originated the power of the celebrated Saladin. His recovery
of Jerusalem, the siege of Ascalon, and his wars with those who are
termed infidels, are given at great length, and the boldest of the
Christian heroes are often represented as flying before his victorious
sword. I looked through this volume, for an account of the wonderful
achievements of our gallant Richard, and some mention of his fair
sister Matilda; but I looked in vain, and the omission produced no
favourable impression of an author who could pass over subjects so dear
to every English reader of the wars of Palestine.
The day before we left Mârâgâ, our muleteers mutinied. They refused
to proceed through Kûrdistan, alleging that the inhabitants were all
robbers and murderers, and delighted in nothing more than plundering
and putting to death Persians, from whom most of the tribes of that
rugged country differ as much in habits as in religion, being half
savages and of the sect of Soonees. The Elchee was only able to quiet
them by promising to replace any mules which might be stolen, and to
defend them if attacked.
The temper of the Elchee, which had been ruffled by this occurrence,
was still more so by the conduct of one of his principal servants,
Feridoon Beg, who, besides receiving handsome pay, bore a gold stick,
and took precedence of all the state servants on occasions of ceremony.
This man having been sent with two hundred piastres to the servants of
the chief of Mârâgâ, kept back twenty. Being detected, his only defence
was, that the fellows had cheated him and others, by intercepting part
of a present from their master to the domestics of the Elchee.
The excuse was not admitted. Feridoon was degraded, and being a
favourite, had little sympathy. One of his companions, approving of
the indignation his conduct had excited, said, "What a mean rascal!
to behave as he has done; and all for twenty piastres!" This speech
increased the Elchee's passion, who reprobated the man for looking at
the amount of the sum taken, not at the immorality of the action. "You,
no doubt," said he, "when you begin, will be a rogue on a large scale."
He proceeded in his anger from individuals to communities, and finished
by declaring, that there was neither truth nor honesty to be found in
Persia.
This was so much the general impression, that we were delighted to find
the Elchee's eyes at length opened; but in the evening, when some of us
expressed concurrence in his opinions, what was our surprise to find
that these had been completely changed by a few hours of reflection!
"I was," he said, "very unreasonable this morning, and am quite ashamed
of myself. What could you expect?" said he to a gentleman who had
mentioned some instances of being cheated in the purchase of horses and
mules, as well as by servants; "what, I ask, could you expect to happen
to an envoy from Persia, who landed at Hull, with the reputation of
having plenty of money; and proceeded to the court of St. James's,
furnishing himself and suite with horses, bought without experience,
and hiring a numerous train of servants, with little if any inquiry
as to their character? Do you think our laws would secure his being
supplied in Yorkshire with horses worth what he gave for them, or
prevent his being cheated and robbed, by men who hang loose on society,
and who consequently would crowd to such a master?
"Now what is our situation in Persia? We fit out a mission at
Abusheher, buy such horses as are offered, and hire every good-looking
fellow who presents himself. We are in fact compelled to do so; for
in a country where religious prejudices are so strong, none but those
who cannot get bread elsewhere would come to serve Faringees, unless
tempted by the hopes of great gain, through fair or unfair means.
"This, if you reflect, must be particularly the case in a country where
laws have little force, but where, whatever of morality there is in
the lower orders, chiefly depends upon their religious sentiments, or
feelings of allegiance and attachment to superiors; and amongst equals,
on the ties which subsist in families and tribes. Their religious
prejudices are all against us, and we neither have, nor can have, any
claim on their allegiance or attachment, nor the benefit of family ties
to guard us in our occasional visits to this country; and we should
not therefore wonder that we are sometimes cheated; far less should we
proceed, as I did this morning, to condemn a whole nation because we
discover such crimes in those around us. We ought, in justice to the
Persians, to refer much of what has occurred to our peculiar situation
in their country, and not write them all down rogues, unless we
ascertain that they are, as a people, in the habit of behaving towards
each other, as we have found a few of them behave towards us."
Such was the Elchee's doctrine, to which there neither was any
expression of assent or dissent. Some probably believed there was
reason in what he stated, while others thought there was no use in
arguing with him on a subject, on which he was known to be very
prejudiced and impatient.
Two more marches brought us to the banks of the river Jaghattee, which
rising among the mountains of Kûrdistan, after fertilizing several
valleys in that country, and in the province of Aderbejan, flows into
the lake of Oormeah. We halted here some days; and were so delighted
with the fishing, shooting, and hunting, near our encampment, that we
should have remained longer, but for a report that the plague was in a
neighbouring village. This determined the Elchee to move; nor could he
be induced to remain by the assurance of some Kûrds, that this village
was the utmost limit to which the scourge had ever been known to extend
in this quarter.
It would fill a volume, were I to relate the amusing and interesting
accounts we received from our enterprising friends; who had not only
visited many of the least known parts of Persia, but had penetrated
into the wide and barbarous countries between that kingdom and India.
Their travels, if ever noticed, must belong to a future work; none
of them excited my curiosity more than those of a gallant and valued
friend, who has since died the death of a soldier. He had traversed
the arid plains of Seestan, and visited the famous cities of Mushed
and Yezd in Khorassan. As he knew Yezd was the chief residence of the
few Guebres, or worshippers of fire, who still remain in Persia, and
who live there, under the protection of their chief, who is one of
the principal magistrates of the town, he had furnished himself with
letters from the Parsees or Guebres at Bombay, to their friends at
Yezd. Among these was one from Khoosroo, a well known poet, who, like
many others, is more famous for the quantity than the quality of his
rhymes. My friend had kept a copy of this singular production, which
was in verse.
After informing the chief to whom this letter was addressed that the
person who would present it was endowed with many qualities, Khoosroo
terms him the Vakeel or agent of the Elchee, whom he describes as a
man "who never took rest for one moment, in one place."[169] This
characteristic hit made us all laugh. The Elchee, while he joined in
our mirth, defended himself against this charge of perpetual motion
as well as he could. "Laugh away, gentlemen," said he, "but recollect
one thing--I have never changed my abode, but by the orders of my
superiors."
We went from the banks of the Jaghattee to a village called Koozlee.
Ascending to the top of a hill, we had a fine view of Kûrdistan, which
appeared, far as the eye could reach, an interminable cluster of hills.
A few scattered huts, and several small encampments, were all we could
see of human dwellings; and their distance from each other indicated
that stage of civilization which precedes the congregating of men into
villages and towns.
The impressions this prospect made upon our minds, as to the character
of the people on whose rugged land we were now entering, were confirmed
the ensuing morning at three o'clock, by the cry of "Robbers, robbers!
Murder, murder!" All was instantly in confusion; trumpets sounded,
drums beat to arms; boots destined for the right leg were put on the
left, while we huddled on our clothes, and ran to our posts. It was
too dark to see ten yards; but we soon discovered that there were no
assailants in the camp. Many of our party who had gone in front came
back, and every one had a more alarming tale than the other. According
to them, several men were killed, and a hundred mules plundered. While
listening to these accounts, a Portuguese servant came galloping into
camp, exclaiming, "They are murdering all the Christians! May the Lord
preserve us!" The pious ejaculations of the affrighted Joseph caused
much merriment; for, as he was the only Christian who had been in
danger, it was evident that his alarm, whatever character he desired to
give it, was all for himself.
The Elchee halted till daylight, and then proceeded towards the
village; where he found his mehmandar, two Kûrdish chiefs, and three
or four principal men of the country, consulting what was to be done.
They entreated him to allow them to trace the robbers, and recover what
had been plundered, which was now found to amount to five mule loads;
but circumstances led to a suspicion that some of those who gave this
advice were concerned in the robbery, and the Elchee was consequently
in no temper to listen to their counsel. He told them not to speak to
him, as he neither wanted their advice nor aid: being resolved to deter
the natives of Kûrdistan from ever again meddling with an European
envoy. They endeavoured, but in vain, to pacify him; he ordered the
infantry and baggage to proceed to the next stage, twelve miles
distant, and with the cavalry, divided into three parties, swept the
country for eight miles, in the direction in which the mules had been
carried off. Three mules and some of the plundered articles were found;
and as a security for the remainder, nine head persons of hamlets and
petty tribes were seized, and taken to our encampment. The mehmandar
and some Kûrdish chiefs entreated for their release, and crowds of
women and children followed us imploring mercy; but all received the
same answer; "When every article which has been taken is restored or
what cannot be found is paid for, then, and not a moment before, shall
these men be released."
The Elchee either was or pretended to be in a great rage. The
mehmandar, who was a favourite, and used to joke with him, became
alarmed: "I now see," said he, "what I had before heard, but could not
believe, that you Faringees, when in a passion, are as great savages as
we are, or even as the Kûrds."
When we reached our encampment, the hostages were placed in strict
confinement, and not allowed to communicate with any of their families
or tribes. The consequence was what we anticipated. The lost mules
and the greater part of the baggage were brought back. Nothing
remained unaccounted for, but some clothes belonging to the Elchee
and his personal servants. These were valued at seven hundred and
twenty piastres; which, seeing no abatement would be allowed, were
at last paid by the collector of the district.[170] Some hours after
the Elchee sent for this officer, and returned him three hundred and
twenty piastres, the amount of his personal loss. This unexpected
consideration put the collector in good humour. The prisoners, who had
been alarmed for their lives, were not only released but feasted; and
the Elchee made small, but valued, presents of coloured handkerchiefs,
knives, and scissors, to several of their wives and children, who had
followed them to our camp. In short, a gloomy morning was succeeded by
a sunshiny evening, and our Kûrd friends left us, declaring they would
never again plunder any of our tribe; a promise they will probably keep
or break, according as they think they can measure strength with those
of our race who may visit their country.
The Elchee having become not only calm, but in high spirits with his
success, was visited by the mehmandar and others, who assured him the
news of these transactions would soon spread, and protect his camp
against all further attempts of plunderers; and certain it is, we were
never again assailed during our residence in Kûrdistan.
Our march for several days was over a very rugged country, in which
there was little cultivation. The pasture appeared excellent, and the
valleys were watered by small but clear streams. The great want in
Kûrdistan, as in many other parts of Persia, is wood. My Indian friend,
Soobadar Syed Hoosein,[171] when riding with me, remarked the great
difference in this particular between the provinces we had travelled
through, and his native land. "These proud Persians," said he, "boast
of their country; but they have neither shade to protect them from the
heat of summer, nor fuel to save them from the cold of winter."
The day he made this observation, the good Soobadar had reason to
complain of the want of the latter article; for, as winter was yet
distant, it being only the 16th of August, none was furnished, and
the cold proved excessive; the water in our tents was frozen, and
Fahrenheit's thermometer stood at 34° at six in the morning.
As we approached Sennah, the capital of the province of Ardelan, the
soil improved, and, if cultivated, would, no doubt, produce abundance
of grain; but its rude inhabitants prefer a pastoral life. They are,
if we may judge from what we saw, an uncommonly robust race, and
appear unchanged in their manners and customs by the twenty-three
centuries which have elapsed since the days of Xenophon, who would
have no difficulty, if permitted to return from the Elysian fields, to
recognize the descendants of the enemies he encountered amidst these
wilds. I made this observation to Baharâm Meerzâ, who had been sent by
the Waly of Sennah to welcome the Elchee, and remarked, at the same
time, the little care or knowledge they had about religion, though all
professed that of Mahomed. "It is all very true," he said, "but two or
three days will bring you to Sennah, and you will then see that though
we are Kûrds, and have a pride in being so, we are not all barbarians."
The evening before we went to Sennah, I read the introductory pages of
the history of the Kûrds. It is written by a native; and, according
to this patriotic author, all the virtue and courage this world has
ever known was nurtured amid the wilds and mountains of Kûrdistan.
Its inhabitants, he affirms, attained great glory in former ages, and
would have subjected the universe, but for the caution of the prophet
Mahomed, who, struck by the fierce look and gigantic form of a Kûrd
ambasssador, prayed to God that this formidable race might never be
united. This prayer was heard, adds my author; and the warriors of
Kûrdistan have ever since been at variance with each other.
Sennah is so surrounded by hills that the town is not seen till you are
close to the suburbs. We were pleased with its appearance: the houses
are well built; and the gardens and cultivation in its vicinity came in
strong and pleasing contrast with the rugged lands through which we had
travelled for the last eight days.
Two sons of Aman ollâh Khan, the Waly, or prince, came with three
hundred horse to meet, and welcome us to the court of their father. I
was delighted with the eldest of these boys. Though only ten years of
age, he rode and managed a very spirited charger with great address. In
his conversation he was free and unembarrassed, mixing the simplicity
of the child with the information of the man. He had, he said, been in
all parts of his father's territories, and appeared well acquainted
with the various tribes by which they were inhabited, answering every
question put to him by the Elchee on this subject with remarkable
clearness and correctness.
The day after our arrival, we went to visit the Waly, who received
us in a magnificent style. We found him attended by his principal
officers; and the two boys, who had come to meet us, were standing
close to their father. The Elchee wished them to be seated; but that,
he was informed, was against the etiquette of this petty court. That
etiquette however was disturbed. A man came into the room, and spoke
to the Waly in the Kûrdish dialect. The prince laughed; and on the
Elchee asking what was the matter--"Nothing," said he, "except that
a spoilt child of mine, not four years of age, declares he will put
himself to death, unless allowed to see you as well as his brothers."
The Elchee entreated he might make his appearance, saying he was fond
of children, and much flattered by the boy's anxiety to see him. Soon
after, in marched this desperate little Kûrd, loaded with fine clothes.
He was tolerably bold at first, but took alarm when pressed by the
Elchee to sit near him; he appeared particularly startled by the cocked
hat and high feather. The Elchee, observing this, took out the feather
and gave it him to play with. This act of conciliation was completely
successful. After amusing himself with the feather for some time, the
little fellow ventured to take up the hat, examined it, and other parts
of our dress, and in a few minutes began to chatter in a manner which
delighted the father, who seemed much pleased with the attention paid
to his favourite.
The Waly having returned the Elchee's visit, and invited us to dine
with him, we went to his palace, a small but handsome building. The
hall in which we were received was forty feet long, twenty-four broad,
and thirty high. A facing of white marble covered the walls of this
apartment to the height of eight feet, above that it was painted and
richly gilt. The chequered gilding of the roof had an appearance like
mosaic, which produced a good effect. Adjoining to this hall, and one
step more elevated, was a room twenty-four feet by eighteen, connected
with the interior of the palace by folding-doors, so admirably
finished, and the gilding of which so exactly corresponded with the
other ornaments of the apartment, that when shut it was difficult to
discover them. The front of the hall was supported by four richly
carved and gilt pillars, and opened on a terrace commanding a view of
the town. On this terrace was a fountain, adapted to its size and that
of the building.
Persia is famous for its carpets; but none I had ever seen surpassed
in beauty that on which the Waly and his guests were seated in this
hall of his fathers. He appeared to have great pride in introducing
the Elchee to the persons by whom he was surrounded. None of them, he
said, counted less than eight or nine generations in the service of
his family, and some had been its firm and attached adherents during a
period of four centuries.
"My country," he concluded, "is above two hundred miles in length,
and nearly as much in breadth. We owe and pay allegiance to the kings
of Persia, but we are exempted from that severity of rule which often
ruins our neighbours, who possess rich plains and wealthy cities.
Ardelan presents little temptation to an invader. It abounds in
nothing," he added, smiling, "but brave men and hardy horses."
The Waly was pleased to find we had, from perusing the history of
Kûrdistan, become acquainted with all the great families of that
country, and were familiar with the names and actions of some of the
most renowned of his ancestors. He had a copy of the same history,
but it wanted some passages which were in that of the Elchee, which
he borrowed to have them transcribed. The Elchee was pleased, when
his volume was returned, to find an addition, which brought up the
history of the Walies of Ardelan to the present date, with a most
flattering and highly coloured account of the arrival of the British
mission at Sennah; an event which the author, in a truly eastern style,
predicted would henceforward be deemed an epoch in the annals of that
principality.
The town of Sennah, which lies in N. lat. 35° 12', enjoys a fine
climate; the small valley in which it is situated being protected from
the severity of the winters in this elevated country, by the hills
around it. The prince and his chiefs live in great luxury, and the
inhabitants have all the appearance of enjoying competence, if not
affluence. Among them were forty families of Nestorian Christians, the
heads of which, with their pastor, visited the Elchee. There were many
of the same sect, the good priest informed us, in Kûrdistan, who had
resided there ever since its separation from the Greek church, a period
of thirteen centuries. As for himself and his little flock, he added,
they had a small church at Sennah, and were, as their fathers had been,
not only tolerated, but protected by the princes of Ardelan. This may
in part be ascribed to their being industrious and useful citizens, as
they are almost all either artizans or manufacturers.
From subsequent conversations which the Elchee had with the Waly,
it appeared that though the kings of Persia had never attempted to
establish their own authority over Ardelan, or to interfere with
its internal administration, they have often disturbed its quiet, by
fomenting discord in the family of its ruler; and more than once have
obtained a temporary influence and power, by aiding a discontented or
revolted prince, to overthrow the direct line of succession.
The contrast between the inhabitants of Sennah and of the neighbouring
hills is singularly striking. The first are little different in their
habits from citizens in Persia, while the latter are even more rude
than the wandering tribes of that country. You meet them, watching
their flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, within five or six miles
of the small but luxurious capital, and are surprised to find that
it is with pity, not envy, they regard its inhabitants. They glory
in the state and splendour of the prince and chiefs to whom they owe
hereditary allegiance, but look with contempt on the unwarlike, but
more civilized community, with whom those they obey are immediately
surrounded.
Hamadân, the ancient Ecbatana, Kermen Shâh, once the residence of the
mighty Khoosroo; Bagdad and its caliphs, the renowned port of Balsorah,
and the southern shores of the Persian Gulph, are all before me. But
here these volumes must close. My efforts to amuse, and perhaps inform
my readers, are interrupted by circumstances, which, though they forbid
promise, warrant a hope, that if we are pleased with each other we may
meet again.
FOOTNOTES:
[160] The writer of the Hubeeb-ul-Syur is the authority quoted by Major
Price, from whose history of the Mahomedans this account is taken.
According to this work, an extraordinary difference was found in the
sun's altitude and declination, at corresponding periods, between
what was exhibited in the tables now framed by Naser-ood-Deen, and in
those formerly established; and an error of surprising magnitude was
detected in the mode that had hitherto been observed for adjusting the
commencement of the new year.
[161] The first who established this sect in Persia was Hoosein Subah.
His followers hold the same tenets as those of Ismael in Egypt.--Vid.
Hist. Persia, vol. i. p. 395.
[162] This treatise is called the Akhlâk-e-Nâsiree, and is deemed
one of the most valuable works which the Mahomedans possess on moral
philosophy.
[163] The English word assassin is said to be derived from the term
Hooseinee, by which this sect was known.
[164] This work is called Tarikh Akrâd, or the History of the Kûrds. It
was given to the Elchee by the Kûrd chief of Mohezzee.
[165] The Mahomedan name of this hero is Sallâh-ood-Deen.
[166] This fort was taken from the Turks by Timoor, after a memorable
siege. Vide Hist. Persia, vol. i. p. 465.
[167] The ancient Nineveh.
[168] Assad-ood-Deen's death took place in the year of the Hegira 564.
[169] "Kih yek dem na geered be-jahee kerrâ."
[170] Zabiteh.
[171] Soobadar is the highest rank a native can attain in the Indian
army. This gallant soldier is now soobadar major of the body guard of
the governor of Madras.
London: W. CLOWES & SONS, Duke Street, Stamford Street.
* * * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Obvious errors of punctuation were corrected.
Inconsistent hyphenation and diacritics were made consistent.
P. 32: reecital of passages -> recital of passages.
P. 42: sweatmeats -> sweetmeats.
P. 72: celebrated physican -> celebrated physician.
P. 76: seach after truth -> search after truth.
P. 129: prince of the the Zend family -> prince of the Zend family.
P. 145: venemous species -> venomous species.
P. 150: as to to its size -> as to its size.
P. 165: Two dervises -> Two dervishes.
P. 167: being unusal for him -> being unusual for him.
P. 177: banished his presence -> banished from his presence.
P. 183: frighful precipices -> frightful precipices.
P. 208: embassadors -> ambassadors.
P. 232: beeen compelled -> been compelled.
P. 269: let me me fulfil my vow -> let me fulfil my vow.
P. 274: the present governer -> the present governor.