PEEFACE. 



So many books have recently appeared about 

 Persia that some apology would seem necessary 

 for adding to the number. My excuse is that 

 though most of the " questions " with which this 

 ancient country bristles have been more than 

 adequately dealt with, little or nothing has been 

 said in any of them about sport ; what game 

 animals and birds are to be found in the Shah's 

 dominions, and how they may be brought to bag. 

 This book, which takes the form of plain sketches 

 of actual personal experiences during a period of 

 three and a half years while I was in charge of 

 one or other of H.M. Consulates in Eastern 

 Persia, is an attempt to supply the deficiency 

 as regards that part. 



If it is thought that an undue proportion of my 

 tales relate to beasts that were lost, I must plead 

 that the fault is at any rate one on the right side. 



263143 



