578 Sir R. Ker Porter’s Travels in Georgia, Persia, Armenia, §c. 
complexions, and large fine eyes ; and 
their. figures are good, with a general 
appearance of cleanliness, a grace not 
very common amongst the lower classes 
in Persia. The chief cause of such 
humble affluence and manifest content, 
lies in the sacred village being exempted 
from tribute of any kind. Neither docs 
it furnish the customary quota of armed 
men, demanded on the part of goyern- 
ment from all less holy districts, to at- 
tend the king in his wars or annual en- 
campments; and, in addition to these 
privileges, the prince-gevernor of Shiraz 
pays a yearly sum of forty tomauns to- 
wards the repair and decoration of the 
Iman’s tomb. The village is well con- 
structed, clean, and at every point 
shows a flourishing condition. A large 
tract of garden-ground, abundanily 
stocked, and a corresponding space for 
corn in as fayourable cultivation, 
stretch before the walls. The whole 
southern face of the mountain, wherever 
practicable, is clothed with quantities of 
grapes ; and every little sheltered spot 
rendered some way profitable by these 
industrious people. ‘They have not the 
advantage of evena single stream to as- 
sist their labours, but are obliged to 
transport all the water they use, from 
wells; which increases the toil, and 
lamentably circumscribes the extent of 
their cultivation. 
THE VALE OF HEROES. 
The vale of Oujon is ranked amongst 
the most fertile in Persia, for natural 
richness of pasture ; and is additionally 
renowned, under the name of the Vale 
of Heroes, from having been the favour- 
ite haunt of Baharam tbe Fifth, sarnamed 
the Gour, and his princely train, in hunt- 
ing the wild ass. The whole valley 
abounds in springs, some hid under 
marsby ground, and others open, in the 
shapes of pools or streams ; but it is sup- 
posed all their sources communicate at 
a great depth. In the course of one of 
his excursions, near the western extre- 
mity of the plain, the king suddenly dis- 
appeared, leaving his astonished retinue 
in the wildest consternation. In, the 
heat of pursuit, Baharam, who was 
much a-head. of his. followers, had 
dashed into a deep still pool of water, 
and, together with his horse, was_in- 
stantly swallowed up. But what re- 
mains a wonder until this day, though 
immediate search was madefor his body, 
not the smallest trace of either himself, 
or the animal that perished with him, 
was ever to be found. Sir John Mal- 
colm, in mentioning this circumstance, 
corroborates its probability, by recount- 
ing the melancholy catastrophe of-a 
European in his own escort, who, al- 
though warmed not to approach jt too 
near, disappeared at the very ‘spot 
pointed out as that fatal to the king! 
The histories of this beloved monarch 
of the Persians, whose fame, they de- 
clare, is to “flourish with the roses of 
paradise, filling the whole earth with 
fragrance for ever!” are fraught with 
highly interesting facts, as well as mar- 
vellously romantic legends. Educated, 
by the command of his royal father, by 
an Arab chief, he acquired all the sim- 
plicity and hardihood of that dauntless 
people ; adding, to their rough virtues, 
many which seem to belong to the most 
polished states of civilization alone. 
During the wars between Baharam 
and the emperor Theodosius, many 
braye Persians were taken. prisoners, 
and carried into bondage to Constanti- 
nople. When the two sovereigns ended 
their hostilities by a truce of a hundred 
years, Acacius declared to his emperor, 
that “ vases of gold and silver were less 
precious ornaments of the church, in his 
eyes and those of God, than justice and 
mercy ;” and therefore, selling the church 
plate, “he employed the money it pro_ 
duced (continues the historian) in the 
redemption of scven thousand Persian 
captives ; supplied their wants with 
commiserating liberality, and dismissed 
them to their native country, fo inform 
Baharam of the true spirit of thatreligion 
against whose followers hehad raised his 
arms.” ‘The valour, clemency, and ge- 
nerosity of the Persian monarch, are the 
theme of every Persian pen; his munifi- 
cence not being limited to favourites at 
court, nor to its mere vicinity, but ex- 
tended over all his dominions, encou- 
raging manufactures, and rewarding 
merit. We find it related in the Zeenut- 
ul-Tuarikh, that his liberality in this 
way was so unbounded, and his own 
style of living so rigidly simple, that his 
ministers thought fit to present a memo- 
rial to him, imploring bis majesty to 
circumscribe his munificence ; and, to 
remember, that these treasures might 
hereafter be necessary to support the 
dignity of bis throne, and to maintain his 
power as became the greafest monarch 
of the East. Baharam made them this 
reply: “IfI am not to confer benefits 
on my best subjects, by thus rewarding 
free men who render obedience to my 
Jaws, and so attaching them to my per- 
son and government ; let those who 
framed these remonstrances, inform me, 
2 what 
