MODERN PERSIA AND ITS CAPITAL 



39" 



Photograph by E. K. De W 



PERSIAN GYPSIES 



Ragged but carefree, they have the same characteristics as gypsies everywhere, and 

 among the Persians, with all their superstitions, the gypsies are especially in demand as 

 fortune-tellers. 



flocks on the green, moist areas immedi- 

 ately below the snow-fields. 



This part of the ascent, made either on 

 horse or mule back or afoot, requires the 

 better part of a day, during the early 

 hours of which it is necessary to grope 

 one's way through heavy cloud banks. It 

 is a glorious moment, however, when a 

 sudden movement of the clouds clears 

 the sky and reveals the summit, its great 

 golden cap of sulphur glowing in the sun- 

 light, seemingly so near in the dry, clear 

 atmosphere that one is deceived into 

 thinking that the climb is almost over. 



The camping facilities at the 13-000- 



foot level of the snow-line are adequate 

 in some respects and lacking in others. 

 Water is there in abundance, and camp- 

 fires ready for the match all too copiously 

 stud the landscape in the form of clumps 

 of dried camel's thorn (see Color Plate 

 V), each much larger than a bushel 

 basket. 



MOUNTAIN PEAKS RESEMBLE ISLANDS IN 

 A FAIRY SEA 



The inadequacy of the sleeping quar- 

 ters, however, impresses one when, being 

 forced to turn in on an artificially and 

 precariously constructed rock shelf, he 



