286 
THE ASSASSINS, OR EL HASSANS. 
past, retaining the burnt-up appearance of the preceding sum¬ 
mer. From this point, begins the plain of Casvin, extending 
south-east, beyond Teheran, to the foot of a lofty line of moun¬ 
tains south of the Caspian, but to the north of this province; 
and well known by the long famous pass of Kawar, anciently 
called the Straits of the Caspian. The whole range bears the 
name of Elborz, or the Kohe Caucausan; and from amidst its 
towering peaks rises the still more gigantic head of Demewand. 
These mountains are noted in Persia by numerous legends re¬ 
specting a malignant race of demons, fabled to possess their 
extremest heights ; and true story gives evidence of a similar 
fact; for it was from amongst the wildest recesses of Elborz, that 
the fiend-like sect, so horribly famous in the histories of the 
crusades, under the name of Assassins, spread themselves from 
those remote eastern regions to the hills of Syria. 
The faith of these people was a wild aberration from the 
Mahomedan creed, mingling with its laws and fatalities the 
transmigratory doctrines of the Hindoos; and, in consequence, 
they believed that their prince or imam was a successive incar¬ 
nation of the Great Prophet, and that every behest of his to 
good or evil, must be obeyed as implicitly as the word of God 
himself. The first of the tribe, who arrogated these divine pre¬ 
tensions, was Hassan Saheb ; a man, whose domineering passions, 
consummate subtility, and persevering spirit of enterprise, per¬ 
fectly fitted for his plan of imposture. He appeared about the 
year 1090; and by various intrigues, and singular mysterious 
deportment, as well as so invincible a courage, that few dared to 
resist, that approached it, he inspired the ignorant barbarians 
around him with a firm belief in his mission, and an enthusiastic 
devotion to himself. His despotic authority followed of 
