78 
BUSHIRE TO SHIRAZ. 
ground, at the foot of which ran a stream of mineral water, of a most 
sulphureous smell. Further on we crossed other streams of the same 
quality; the heat of one of which, as it gushed from under the rocks, 
was almost scalding. We brought home specimens of the incrustation 
which the spray of the bubbles left on the surrounding rocks. The bed 
of the stream was mostly of the colour of sulphur, although there were 
patches here and there of a copper hue. Still a little further on, on 
the left of the road, are two springs of naptha. The oil swims on the 
surface of the water, and the peasantry take it off with a branch of 
date tree, and collect it into small holes around the spring ready for 
their immediate use. They daub the camels all over with it in the 
spring, which preserves their coats, and prevents a disease in the skin, 
which is common to them. 
The huts in the village of Daulakee, as we rode through it, appeared 
mostly to be covered on the tops with the entwined leaves of their date 
trees, while the better houses are built of mud, and terraced. The 
mosque was the most creditable building that met our eye in the whole 
place: its interior seemed neatly arranged in arches, and preserved 
clean with a white stucco. There was a little bath at the extremity of 
the town. The customary fort (for such are found in most of these 
villages) was situated in the middle of the huts, at the top of which 
many an eager Persian was perched. This place, and indeed all we had 
seen, presented a picture of poverty stronger than words can express. 
There was nothing but what mere existence required; nor to our very 
cursory observation did the most trifling superfluity shew itself. 
The river that runs by Daulakee meanders through the plain which 
we had passed. All the mineral streams, which crossed our road, fall 
into it, and renders its waters salt and brackish. The soil itself indeed, 
at the roots of the mountains, is, in some places, saturated with a ni¬ 
trous acid, of which, in the neighbourhood of Daulakee , the people 
make a pleasant beverage. In one of the recesses of the mountains, 
however, there is a stream of pure and delicious water. In the evening 
I walked to the spring, which is embosomed in date trees: it is beauti- 
