62 
SAADFS TOMB. 
served up in vessels of gold ; but their principal article of luxury, the 
kaleoon, was not brought in, out of regard to the Ambassadress, who, 
as they had learnt, could not endure smoking. On the whole, the 
scene appears to have been magnificent; and, considering the unbounded 
curiosity of the Persian women to see an European lady, was conducted 
with a great deal of propriety. The day after the visit, the Queen sent 
halaatsy or dresses, to the Ambassadress, her daughter, and her two 
maids ; the most remarkable parts of which were the brocade trowsers, 
so stiff that they could stand up aright in the middle of the room. 
During our stay at Shiraz, I took the first opportunity to see all, that 
from want of time in my last visit, I had left unseen. The first object 
was the tomb of the poet Saadi, which is placed in the corner of a 
building erected over his manes by Kerim Khan, situated in a recess of 
the mountains, about two miles to the N. E. of Shiraz. Nothing can 
be more unpicturesque than the approaches to it. Not a speck of ver¬ 
dure is to be seen near it, and the hills that form an amphitheatre 
around are of a sterility that inspires horror. 
The tomb, which is a square oblong stone, carved with inscrip¬ 
tions and ornaments, has been so abused and shattered, that on reflect¬ 
ing that it was erected to the memory of him whose genius still forms 
the delight of Asia, one retires from it disgusted with its state, and 
