38 
SOCIETY OF ISPAHAN. 
in this quarter, a very paradise. It terminated at the great bazar 
of Shah Abbas; the whole of which enormous length of building 
is vaulted above, to exclude heat, yet admit air and light. 
Hundreds of shops, without inhabitant, filled the sides of this 
epitome of a deserted mercantile world; and having traversed 
their untrodden labyrinths for an extent of nearly two miles, 
we entered the Maidan Shah, another spacious soundless theatre 
of departed grandeur. The present solitude of so magnificent a 
place was rendered more impressive by the distinct echoing of 
our horses’ footsteps, as we passed through its immense 
quadrangle to the palace that was to be our temporary abode. 
On entering beneath its gold and marble portico, I felt the plea¬ 
surable sensation of old acquaintanceship, if not an actual glow 
of something like home ; for this was the very one of the Hesth 
Beheste, or Eight Palaces, which had been my residence during 
my first stay at Ispahan. The coolest, and therefore most 
delightful range amongst its splendid apartments was prepared 
for us; and to add to the immediate refreshment of “ fruits, 
flowers, and the limpid spring,” we had the agreeable information 
that our friend Hadge Bachire was the inhabitant of the suite 
nearest to ours. It was not now difficult to guess whence had 
flowed the cornucopia before us. Mutual visits were soon paid; 
and we had more and more reason to remember with respect 
and gratefulness, the good Abyssinian of Shiraz. 
During my present sojourn in the fading courts of the Sefi, 
I had more frequent opportunities than before of mixing with 
what, in Europe, would be called the society of the place. I had 
become more intimate with the general manners of the country, 
in the course of my travelling; and hence better understood the 
Persian character in general, and more clearly distinguished 
