454 H. A. Ward — Veramin Meteorite. 



of my visit to his country. I had heard in far-distant America 

 of a famous stone which had fallen from heaven many years 

 ago, and was now in the palace of the Shah. That I wished 

 to see it, to examine, weigh and photograph it ; and also, if 

 possible, to obtain a piece of it for my collection of these 

 wonderful objects. His excellency informed me that it would 

 be possible to bring about most of my requests as stated, but 

 that he doubted very much my being able to obtain a frag- 

 ment, even ever so small, of the precious and somewhat cele- 

 brated stone. He would, however, at an early day be called 

 to see his Majesty the Shah, and he would then bring up the 

 subject, and ascertain what might be done. In fact, after a 

 few days' delay I received a letter from the Grand Yizier, 

 enclosing word from the Shah inviting him to call on the fol- 

 lowing day with me and with the American Ambassador, 

 Mr. Arthur Hardy, who had interested himself actively on my 

 behalf. We went promptly the next day. We were joined at 

 the grand outer stairway by the Guardian of the Palace and 

 one or two court attendants, and with them we proceeded at 

 once to the hall of the Peacock Throne, where the audience 

 was to be given. At the further end of the hall, and imme- 

 diately in front of the throne stood his Imperial Majesty, the 

 Shah, Mozuffer-el-Din (Victorious of the Faith), whom it is 

 proper on such occasions to address as u King of Kings " or 

 "Asylum of the Universe." 



I must not dwell upon this interview, interesting as it was 

 in many ways. 



The conversation turned chiefly upon meteorites. His 

 Majesty was curious to know more or less about their place of 

 origin, the places in which they had fallen, their general com- 

 position, and particularly if any of them contained silver or 

 gold. One point in my conversation with the Shah particu- 

 larly interested me: This was when, turning to the Guardian 

 of the Palace, who stood at his right, he made some remark 

 illustrated by the fingers of one hand crossing the other, at 

 which the Grand Yizier, interpreting to me, said: "His 

 Majesty says that you may have a piece of the meteorite." 

 This declaration having been made, and I having duly given 

 my thanks, the audience ended. 



On our way down the long hall we had our first view of the 

 famous meteorite, which was on a low stand under a window. 

 By its side was a large cardboard label which gave in beautiful 

 Persian characters the short and only preserved account of the 

 fall. I here give the translation, which was kindly made for 

 me by our American Consul, Mr. Edward Tyler. 



