218 
JUNCTION WITH THE PILGRIMS. 
teen different times, to Kerbela and Mesched Ali; “ out of which 
number of journeys,” continued he, “ I have never had the ill 
fortune to fall in with robbers but ten times, and then I always 
escaped tolerably well, excepting once.” But these tolerable 
escapes, I found, had not prevented the merciless treatment of 
the helpless part of his troop ; namely, the old men, women, and 
children ; and, generally, the loss of all the baggage : the whole 
skins of the men, and of their leader, appearing to be the chief 
objects of care with both. “ The attack I call the worst,” said 
he, “ happened some years ago, when Kelb Ali Khan *, and his 
Fielly tribe, used to come into these parts, and make all fly 
before them. Then, besides the carrying off all the goods, and 
the maltreatment of the poor souls who could not defend them¬ 
selves, I lost my horse, was stripped, and left for dead on the 
ground, amongst two hundred others who were actually mur¬ 
dered. Ah,” added he, “ those Louristan tribes hold it out 
desperately ! not so the thieves we have to fear to-morrow ! yet,” 
cried he, lowering his tone, “ it is good we travel together; for I 
know the Frangy never give up quietly!” He then complimented 
me, by saying that he had seen the European style of fighting, 
and felt it too, when he served in Ghilan against the Russians ; 
and hence he was sure he might depend upon me, in case of an 
attack. “ Though,” added he, “ I cannot boast of the pilgrims 
standing fire very resolutely, you and your people may firmly 
rely on my steadiness.” I gave him all the credit he desired ; 
and having thus settled the terms of alliance, and treated him 
with the ceremonials of coffee and kaliouns, he took his leave 
* This was the chief who treacherously murdered Captain Grant, and Mr. 
Fotheringham, two distinguished officers attached to the embassy of Sir John 
Malcolm. 
