370 
CHESHMEH BAD. 
of water in Persia! This stream forms at once a respectable river, flows 
towards Damgan, and there irrigates the greater part of its extensive 
cultivation. 
Cheshmeh Ali, or Ali’s spring, is so called because it is said to be one 
of the miracles which Ali performed, at the prayers of the inhabitants 
of this dry country, who were starving from the effects of a great 
drought. He spoke, and the waters flowed. But it does not appear 
that Ali ever was at this place, which these determined believers only 
add to the magnitude of the miracle. 
On the 27th we reached the King’s camp, situated in a valley called 
Sawer, and were 6i hours on the road, which we reckoned at 26 miles. 
At a fursung and a half from Cheshmeh Ali we passed by the village of 
Kelateh on the left, and taking a northerly direction we entered upon a 
plain, partially cultivated with corn. On the right, close under the 
mountains, was the large village of Chahardeh, surrounded by trees; 
and then Toweh, situated immediately at the entrance of a pass of the 
mountains, on a commanding situation. There is another road from 
Cheshmeh Ali to Toweh, that leads over the mountains, and passes 
near the Cheshmeh Bad, or the Fountain of Wind, celebrated through 
this part of the country, and indeed throughout Persia, as a phenome¬ 
non. It is believed by all ranks of people, that as soon as a small 
stream of mineral water, which flows from the mountain, is polluted by 
any thing unclean, such as the dung of animals, &c. the touch or im¬ 
purities of unbelievers, the air is convulsed by a most violent wind, 
storms arise, clouds obscure the sun, and every thing seems to threaten 
a total dissolution. This continues to rage with unabated fury, until 
the members of a particular tribe, who are said alone to be able 
to make it subside, are called, clear away the pollutions, and re¬ 
store sunshine and harmony to the heavens. It is affirmed, that the 
late King paid dear for his curiosity, by ordering the spring to be dis¬ 
turbed ; for he saw the whole of his camp swept off the ground by the 
wind that immediately arose. His present Majesty, whenever he tra¬ 
vels this way, is so afraid of a similar catastrophe, that he always 
stations a Nasakchi, or police officer, to see that no one approaches the 
