jS^ . TIIRTV-FIYE YEARS IN THE EAST, 



more convenient for travelling to L-ihore. We employed' 

 that time in studying the Persian language, as the know- 

 ledge of it would facilitate our getting an engagement. 

 But we could not remain there long, being continually ill- 

 treated and robbed, and we therefore thought it preferable 

 to go overland to Lahore, by the way of H Ispahan, Heirat,. 

 and Cabul. On this journey we had again to endure a 

 great deal of annoyance from the Persians, who being defeat- 

 ed by the Russians in war, were anxious to revenge them- 

 selves on us ; they treated us, in fact, worse than their dogs, 

 cheating, robbing, and insulting us to such a degree, that 

 M. De Turk on one occasion cocked his pistol to fire at a 

 radar ( road-keeper ) who was very insolent ; but I prevent- 

 ed him from executing his design. Arriving at Hispahan, 

 we found there a gallant governor, Hosruff Khan, from whom 

 we met with a kind reception, and who gave us some 

 medical practice, by appointing us to attend about forty 

 Russian prisoners, some of whom were suffering from wounds 

 and others from fevers. At this time we learned that the 

 Russians were at Tabris, that Abbas Mirza had taken flight, - 

 together with his wives, to Hamedan, and that the latter 

 had upbraided the MoUa ( hii^'h priest) for having induced 

 the Shah to wage war wiih the Russians, by assuring him 

 that the Persians would remain unhurt by the fiery balls of 

 the Russian guns, as his prayers would render them in- 

 vulnerable. The priest took their reproof so much to heart, 

 that he soon afterwards died. It is commonly said, that 

 Abbas Mirza exclaimed, on that occasion " Pul bigirend, we 

 pes birovend " — '■ The Russians shall take money, and go 

 back to their country." In consequence of the fatigues and 

 toils which we had to eniuru at Shiras, as well as on our 

 journey to Kispahan, my comj .mion caught a nervous fever, 

 which weakened his mind and i ody to such a degree, that 

 he no longer wished to go on to Lahore, and he persuaded 

 me to return with him to BagdaJ At Hispahan, a con- 

 spiracy was formed by the native doctors against our lives,, 

 of which we were informed by an Armenian, and, by the in- 

 terference of the governor, we were pre:jerved. 1 availed 



