238 
MOUNTAIN OF SAVALAN. 
who relate that in one of the snowy chasms at its summit is to be seen 
the dead body of a man, always frozen, but in the highest state of pre¬ 
servation, (with the exception of one tooth and a part of the beard), 
and which they believe to have belonged to a Peyghember, or Prophet, 
whose name the mountain retains to this day. Although this story is 
in every one’s mouth, and confirmed with assurances that many have 
seen the body, yet we never met with any one person who had himself 
seen it. We rather lowered what in their estimation is a miracle, by 
informing them that bodies of any description will preserve entire, 
as long as they remain frozen ; and that ''they had only to seek the 
frozen market at Petersburg!! to convince themselves of the fact. 
The next day we encamped on an open spot in the midst of dreary 
mountains, bringing provisions with us from the last stage, being dis¬ 
tant from any village. On the left of our road we observed some 
curious rocks, that we supposed basaltic. 
On the 17th of September, a cold bleak daj^, with fog overspreading 
the country, we arrived at the Prince Royal’s camp at Ak tappeh. The 
Ambassador was met by a large body of horsemen, headed by some of the 
Prince’s chief officers ; and after we had reached our tents, a splendid 
Persian breakfast, composed of all sorts of dishes and sherbets, was 
served up to us on several large trays; a distinction which, as coming 
direct from their Prince, in the eyes of the Persians, we could not 
sufficiently appreciate. 
The Prince’s camp was situated in a valley running north and south, 
near a small stream of excellent water, whose source was in our im¬ 
mediate neighbourhood. It had been pitched under the superintend¬ 
ance of the English officers, and displayed a regularity unknown to the 
Persians. The front was occupied by the small tents of a disciplined 
regiment of infantry; then came a line of the tents of the English 
officers; and behind these a large crimson pavilion, which served as 
the dewan khoneh, or hall of audience. The Prince’s own tent, en¬ 
closed by the distinguishing serpei'deh^, was next in order; to the 
* The serperdeh is composed of canvas walls, that surround a tent; and, except by ex¬ 
press permission, none but the King and his spns are allowed to make use of it. 
