180 
ISPAHAN TO TEHERAN. 
had to pass through its extensive ruins when it was quite dark. The 
Envoy, who rode in the takht-e-ravan , was in some danger in passing 
over a bridge, for one of the mules slipping threw him nearly into 
the stream. 
Room is esteemed a holy city ; it encloses the tombs of many saints, 
and among others that of the sister of Imaum Reza. The present 
King made a vow before he ascended the throne, that if he should ever 
succeed to the crown he would enrich the city of Room by buildings, 
and exempts its inhabitants from paying tribute. He has fulfilled his 
vow, and has built a large medressf. or college near the tomb of the 
sister of Imaum Reza, and gives great encouragement to the learned 
people who resort to it. He covered the cupola of the tomb itself 
with gold plates (instead of the lacquered tiles which he removed), and 
he is said to spend one hundred thousand tomauns annually, in the 
embellishments of these monuments. The riches of this tomb are said 
to be immense, and they are augmented every year by some new 
donation in jewelry and precious stones from the King’s wives, and the 
great men of the court. The tomb of Imaum Reza himself is in the 
city of Mesched. 
12th. The morning presented to us a dark and threatening atmos¬ 
phere, and a country covered with snow. It had fallen in the night 
to a depth of six inches. We however proceeded on to Pool Dallauk , 
a distance of twelve miles ; leaving our heavy baggage behind, as the 
Envoy was particularly anxious to reach the capital, before the com¬ 
mencement of the mourning of Moharrem. North of Room there is a 
small river called the Rhour-e-Shootur. The plain was much soaked 
with the melted snow; we reached the caravanserai at Pool Dallauk 
at an early hour, intending to depart again at ten o’clock at night. 
This place derives its name from a barber who repaired the bridge, 
originally built by Shah Abbas over the river, which runs E. 
and W. before the caravanserai. The water of this stream, and 
indeed all the rivulets here, deri ve a saltness from the soil through which 
they pass. 
