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SIAHDAN. 
291 
Siahdan is a flourishing place, extended over a large piece of 
rising ground, which, in that part, gently breaks the perfect level 
of the plain. During our last few hours’ journey, it had widened 
from twelve to sixteen miles across. Here, though the climate 
had softened so much, we were reminded that winter was yet on 
the other side of the hills ; for a chilling wind from the north, 
assailed us from between the mountains. It is called the baude 
Caucausdn, or wind of Caucasus ; and, I was told, it continues to 
blow at intervals, till the end of May; at which time the warm 
weather sets in with good earnest. 
Saturday, the fourteenth of March, we left Siahdan very early 
in the morning, in a direction south-east; the plain still expand¬ 
ing eastward ; which, while it allowed a greater play .to the wind, 
opened so free and noble a view, with a sky of such bright azure, 
that a little extraordinary coldness in the air rather gave 
stimulus than annoyance to our senses. The horsemen, as 
before, amused us by galloping, charging, and repeating, with new 
varieties, all the feats of yesterday; for emulation between the 
trains of the two princes increased the actors, and added to the 
interest of the sight; the very horses seeming to partake the 
ambition of their masters. If blood prove pedigree, these fine 
animals fully established their descent from the ancient race, so 
famous for form, spirit, and swiftness, bred in these very pastures. 
We have ample testimony from the old historians, that the best 
cavalry of the East were derived from this part of the great 
empire of Persia; and the native breed were so highly prized 
above all others, that Alexander considered a Median horse as 
the most royal gift he could bestow; and the kings of Parthia 
chose the same, as the most costly sacrifice they could lay upon 
the altar of their gods. 
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