KOOSHKAT. 
463 
with trees. We passed two of these pretty hamlets, called Sakhah 
and Bahman; they stood a mile to our right; while the inter¬ 
mediate ground, where men and cattle were moving about in the 
purposes of husbandry, gave a civilized life to the view ; widely 
contrasting the wild region of the day before, over which we had 
pursued the fleet-footed gour. A ride of two or three hours 
farther brought us to Kooshkat, our halting-place, about five 
farsangs from Shulgistan. 
This is an extensive village, with a small fortress in the 
centre; round which the low flat-roofed houses cluster, within 
an outward line of embattled walls. Gardens surround it also, 
full of flowers and fruit, and most gratefully umbrageous trees. 
But above all luxuries, it enjoyed the blessing of an abundant 
supply of deliciously pure water, which flows through every 
street. There being no caravansary, my quarters were to be at 
the house of Moullah Basheh, the Solon of the place. He re¬ 
ceived his Frangy guest with the most frank-hearted courtesy ; 
providing me with a charmingly cool chamber, or rather large 
vaulted cell, neatly matted for my repose. But it proved, that he 
had honoured the stranger, by putting him into the mesjid (or 
chapel) itself; for, during my sojourn there, I perceived several 
persons gliding in, at the stated hours, to repeat their prayers; 
and, when said, disappearing again, without disturbing me or 
themselves. Indeed, the manners of these villagers seemed as 
kindly cultivated as their soil; and the good priest had been so very 
assiduous for my comfort, that, at parting, I gave him a little re¬ 
membrance, in the shape of an English pocket-knife; an article 
in higher estimation in this part of Persia, for its general use¬ 
fulness, than almost any other European present I could have 
made. The Moullah received it with grave, but eloquent thanks. 
