BUSHIRE TO SHIRAZ. 
83 
travellers with an impunity quite characteristic of the state of the 
country. Although some attempts have occasionally been made to 
terrify them into submission, by inflicting the severest tortures on the 
few individuals who have chanced to be caught, yet the example has 
been lost on the living, and the love of independence and plunder has 
outweighed the terrors of barbarous punishment and ignominious death. 
The abrupt formation of their mountain haunts (labyrinths to those who 
have not long practised them,) favours this community so materially* 
that instances have been known of their having snatched from the very 
centre of a caravan, some traveller who promised less resistance than 
his companions, or some well loaded mule, that seemed to announce 
more booty than others. When Brigadier-General Malcolm went 
through their mountains on a former mission, the robbers bore off 
some of his mules which carried part of the rich presents destined for 
the King of Persia. So firmly are they now established in their 
fastnesses, that the neighbouring Khans and Governors of districts have 
chosen, since the evil itself was inevitable, to take a part in its advan¬ 
tages, and, it is said, maintain their own agents amongst the Memmih 
Sunni , with whom they have stipulated agreements about the fruits of 
their plunder. They happened to be less predatory at the time of our 
passage, and we proceeded through the mountains without the least 
molestation. 
The Caravanserai close to our encampment was a solid, though rather 
ancient structure, and the walls, scribbled over with names or couplets, 
attested the passage of frequent travellers. We saw a cock blackbird, 
and Sir Harford fired three times on a thrush, which, notwithstand¬ 
ing, kept its ground, until it was taken up in the hand, and indeed 
permitted itself to be taken up frequently without offering to fly 
away. 
A road is making at the sole expence of Hajee Mahomed Hassajt, 
a merchant and inhabitant of Bushire, which will cut through the moun¬ 
tains from Kauzeroon to Khaumauridge , and shorten the distance two 
fursmgs . Its direction bore E. from us at Khaumauridge • 
m 2 
