2?2 HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



was assented w by all present, and the possession of a breed of 

 dogs, which their Shaikh had not, added not a little, m the eyes 



of those peasants, to the character of the mission. 



#***** 



Some gentlemen had accompanied the mission whose chief 

 object was to see Persepolis and other remains of ancient splen- 

 dor. These motives were unintelligible to the Persians. The 

 day we left the ruins, Aga Meer, as we were riding together, ex- 

 pressed his surprise at men devoting their time to such pursuits. 

 " What can be the use," said he, " of travelling so far and running 

 so many risks to look at ruined houses and palaces, when they 

 might stay so comfortably at home ?" I replied with some feeling 

 of contempt for my friend's love of quiet, " If the state of a man's 

 circumstances, or that of his country, does not find him work, he 

 must find it for himself, or go to sleep and be good for nothing. 

 Antiquaries," I continued, " to whcse praiseworthy researches 

 you allude, by directing, through their labors and talents, our 

 attention to the great names and magnificent monuments of former 

 days, aid in improving the sentiments and taste of a nation. Be- 

 sides, though no antiquary myself, I must ever admire a study 

 which carries man beyond self. I love those elevating thoughts 

 that lead me to dwell with delight on the past, and to look forward 

 with happy anticipations to the future. We are told by some 

 that such feelings are mere illusions, and the cold, practical phi- 

 losopher may, on the ground of their inutility, desire to remove 

 them from men's minds, to make way for his own machinery ; 

 but he could as soon argue me out of my existence as take from 

 me the internal proof which such feelings convey, both as to my 

 origin and destination." 



" There goes a Goor-kher'' (wild ass), said Mahomed Beg, the 

 Jelloodar,* who was riding close behind ; and away he galloped. 

 Away I galloped also, leaving unfinished one of the finest speeches 

 about the past and the future that was ever commenced. 



We pursued the goor-kher several miles, when we gave up the 

 *hase as hopeless. On our return, however, we found plenty ol 



* Persian groom. 



