A RIDE TO TEHERAN IN 1888. 329 



I started at eight in the evening in a boat-shaped 

 vehicle with a hood, in which I lay full length on 

 a quantity of hay. The jolts and concussions were 

 terrible, and the cold excessively piercing, especially 

 in the early morning. 



The Persian capital is finely situated on a wide 

 plain protected by mountains, amongst which towers 

 the volcano Demavend (20,000 ft.). Towards the 

 south there is nothing to obstruct the view across 

 the yellow desert till the horizon becomes indistinct 

 through the mere immensity of distance in the direc- 

 tion of Ispahan. If it were not hidden by a low 

 range of hills, one might see the lake which suddenly 

 appeared seven years ago, called Hawz i Sultan Kavir, 

 thirty -five miles distant from Teheran, and twenty- 

 five miles in length. It is supposed by the Persians 

 to be the Lake Savah, which was situated thereabouts 

 and disappeared on the night Mohammed was born. 

 Before reaching the gates of the city I met several 

 parties of wealthy Persians apparently setting out 

 in search of sport with guns and dogs, and some with 

 hawks, probably in search of bustard, of which there 

 are a few on the plains around. 



Two days later, having seen many of the curious 

 sights of the city, I made myself known at the 

 British Legation, and remained there on the kind 

 invitation of our Minister and Lady Drummond 

 Wolff during the remainder of my stay. 



Sport around Teheran is almost entirely reserved 

 for His Majesty. A special drive, however, for ibex 



