306 
QUARREL WITH THE KET KHODA. 
that the flocks of goats and antelopes on the mountains to the northward 
of Khoi, are more numerous than it is easy either to count or to conceive 
Both these pillars are now thrown considerably from their perpendicular, 
and the next strong earthquake will most likely complete their fall. 
On returning, we saw an instance of the viciousness of a Persian horse, 
which had nigh been fatal to the rider. We were accompanied by 
several respectable Persians; amongst others, by two who happened 
both to be mounted upon vicious horses. They were riding close to 
each other, when the horse of the one suddenly reared, and open- 
mouthed darted upon the other. His rider pulling him back with all 
his might caused the horse to fall backwards, which so completely 
crushed the unfortunate man under him, that we never expected to see 
him rise again. He however came off with only the fracture of his 
collar-bone, which the surgeon of the Embassy soon set for him. 
From Khoi, we proceeded five miles to a village at the end of the 
plain called Parschee, situated in a beautiful tract of grass land, as even 
as a bowling-green. As there was no village excepting this, nearer 
than six fursungs; and as it was impossible without much inconveni¬ 
ence for the Ambassador’s family to travel so far, we were obliged to 
stop here, much to the annoyance of the tent-pitchers, who not an 
hour before had been at the labour of unpitching the tents, and 
were now obliged to set to work again ; but greatly to the joy of the 
mule-drivers, who were happy with so little fatigue, to afford their 
cattle a whole day’s run upon the fine pasturage which surrounds Pars¬ 
chee. 
The Ambassador had made known to the Governor of Khoi, in lan¬ 
guage not to be misunderstood, the sense which he entertained of his 
incivility, and the effect of this intercourse was soon displayed in the 
conduct of the people of the village. The Ket Khoda of Parschee at 
first resisted the demand of our Mehmandar, Yusuf Khan, for the usual 
evening guards to our camp. My tent happened to be placed near the 
Mehmandar’s; and whilst he kept me awake, discussing the matter 
with the Ket Khoda, I was enabled every now and then, from the vio¬ 
lence of his voice and language, to collect a few of the arguments of 
