332 
ROYAL PAVILION. 
had known at St. Petersburgh, during his stay there as ambas¬ 
sador, was politely eager to return me every hospitable attention 
at his sovereign’s capital, and to point out the most interesting 
objects in its neighbourhood. Hence I had a variety of kind, 
and well-informed cicerones ; and lost no time in visiting every 
note-worthy spot in the town, and the many sumptuous palaces, 
with their boasted gardens, which formed the circumjacent 
scenery ; besides the interesting objects of antiquity, which 
stretched along the Elborz, from their fabled heights, to the 
base of the mountains, where lay the ever-venerable ruins 
of Rhey. 
In the midst of these occupations, my attention was recalled 
to the horse-race; and it took place on the lltli of April. Soon 
after six o’clock, in a beautiful spring morning, we rode to the 
field of action. It was about two miles from the city, beyond 
the Casvin gate; where, I was told by one of my Persian friends, 
I should see 44 the fiery coursers of Iran, pass over the untouched 
earth with the velocity of lightning.” When arrived at the 
spot, we found a superb pavilion, which had been pitched the 
night before, for the reception of the King. It was lined with 
brocaded silk, and carpeted with the most splendid manufacture 
of Kerman. A chair of state, embroidered with precious stones, 
with the imperial kalioun, and a little vase or crachoir , all em¬ 
bellished in the same costly style, stood under the canopy, facing 
its opening. Already hundreds of khans, on gorgeously- 
caparisoned horses, with their respective trains, had ranged 
themselves in front of the tent, leaving an intermediate space 
for the race. 
A volley from the swivels of the camel-corps, proclaimed 
when his Majesty mounted at the gate of his palace ; and soon 
