THE EELAUTS. 
473 
had in view a noble volume of waters that gushed from a 
cleft in the rock, and pouring downwards in a powerful stream, 
scooped a channel for itself in the deep bosom of the hills, 
thence flowing onward. Along its grateful current we kept our 
way ; for, being again on the low ground, the sun had resumed 
its full influence, and the sight alone of the cooling spring, 
independent of the motion of its rapid waters fanning the air, 
was cheering to man and beast. But that was not all; the 
aromatic smell from the wild rosemary and profusions of lavender, 
which grew every where around, as well as from other fragrant 
herbage that covered our path, and the banks of the river, 
rendered the soft breeze we were then meeting, one breath of 
refreshing sweets, while the fragrant vegetation itself afforded a 
rich pasture to several flocks of sheep and goats we saw browsing 
along the margin of the stream. Each flock was guarded by its 
shepherd and his faithful dogs ; the man being armed with a 
huge clubbed stick, terminating in a lump of an egg shape, 
sometimes made of solid iron, and cleft in divisions exactly like 
the maces of our ancient men-at-arms. With this substitute for 
a crook, they settle all rival differences, and a most formidable 
weapon it proves ! 
The sheep and goats, with their simply-clad tenders, (for they 
had little more than a light upper-garment, and their trowsers,) 
belonged to a horde of one of the wandering tribes, so com¬ 
monly to be met with, at this season of the year, all over Persia. 
They bear the general name of Eelauts. My friend, Mr. Belino, 
observes of this name, and of these people, that “ Eelaut , is 
derived from Eel, a genuine Turkish or Tartarian word, signi¬ 
fying tribe ; to which aut, an Arabic termination of the plural, 
was added; a barbarous form, not uncommon in Persia. The 
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VOL. i. 
