332 TRAVELS IN THE EIGHTIES. 



leading to the mosque, were promptly arrested, for 

 His Majesty was thoroughly alarmed. They were then 

 conveyed to the citadel and ordered to be summarily 

 executed. After the sentence had been carried out 

 upon eight of the prisoners the Prime Minister or 

 some other official got wind of these proceedings and 

 came flying down in time to stop any more of such 

 vindictive measures. 



In the Persian capital the bazaars, the motley 

 crowds, and the Shah's treasury and palaces are the 

 only sights. The latter have exquisite gardens. The 

 water supply is abundant, and inside some of the 

 rooms fountains and running streams are found. Some 

 of the Persian horses, particularly those of the Im- 

 perial stud, are perfectly lovely animals. The Persians 

 are first-rate horsemen, but there are no national horse 

 races. The only ones His Majesty delights in are 

 those of rose-leaves thrown down one of the water- 

 courses in his palaces. The Shah takes queer fancies. 

 Some time ago the object was a white cat. It had a 

 special horse of its own, with a cage, of which the wires 

 were padded with velvet for fear lest any of its fur 

 should be injured. Soon it got lost; and "then the 

 trouble began." All the good-looking cats in Persia 

 were brought, but none of them was the right one. 



Now the object of His Majesty's regard is the son of 

 one of his officers ; a child whom he has made Field 

 Marshal over the heads of all his veterans. 



The climate is very peculiar. In April the spring 

 commences, the pleasantest part of the year, and lasts 



