On the Road to the Caspian 265 



here to Bander Gez lay through a profusion of 

 vegetation, that in spite of the European forest 

 trees, the undergrowth of hazel and dog-rose, the 

 festoons of wild hops and honeysuckle, seemed 

 almost tropical. Here we took steamer across 

 the blue Caspian and shook off the dust of 

 Persia's " sacred soil." 



