DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0096
80
PRINCE ABBAS MEERZA.
CHAP. XIV.
ercise of your philanthropy." I was pleased with
the ingenuity and earnestness of the reasoning,
which his Royal Highness had, no doubt, derived
from some English newspaper or English friend.
The Prince now turned to other matters, and asked
regarding my education, and the notes which I had
taken of the unknown country I had visited. " I
am aware of your custom to do so," said he; " and
it is this general observance of it which has exalted
your nation in the scale of civilisation." He en-
quired if I had met with any potatoes in my travels;
and, on my replying in the negative, he produced a
basketful of his own rearing, with evident satisfaction.
They were a fair specimen, and do most decidedly
entitle his Royal Highness to be elected an hono-
rary member of a horticultural society. In the
true spirit of a courtier, the Prince returned to the
Uzbeks and the different countries of Toorkistan
with which he thought me best acquainted. He
asked, if I had met with any explanation of those
passages in the History of Timour, where the under-
mining of a tower is described, and its then being
destroyed by fire. I was not prepared for such a
question, and mentioned the Greek fire used at the
siege of Constantinople, and the circumstance of
Timour's vicinity to China, where it is believed that
the art of making gunpowder was then known.
Among the ancients, towers, after being undermined,
were supported by wooden frameworks, which, when
set fire to, ceased to support the bastion, and it
consequently fell. I next replied to the Prince's
queries regarding the customs of the Uzbeks. He
PRINCE ABBAS MEERZA.
CHAP. XIV.
ercise of your philanthropy." I was pleased with
the ingenuity and earnestness of the reasoning,
which his Royal Highness had, no doubt, derived
from some English newspaper or English friend.
The Prince now turned to other matters, and asked
regarding my education, and the notes which I had
taken of the unknown country I had visited. " I
am aware of your custom to do so," said he; " and
it is this general observance of it which has exalted
your nation in the scale of civilisation." He en-
quired if I had met with any potatoes in my travels;
and, on my replying in the negative, he produced a
basketful of his own rearing, with evident satisfaction.
They were a fair specimen, and do most decidedly
entitle his Royal Highness to be elected an hono-
rary member of a horticultural society. In the
true spirit of a courtier, the Prince returned to the
Uzbeks and the different countries of Toorkistan
with which he thought me best acquainted. He
asked, if I had met with any explanation of those
passages in the History of Timour, where the under-
mining of a tower is described, and its then being
destroyed by fire. I was not prepared for such a
question, and mentioned the Greek fire used at the
siege of Constantinople, and the circumstance of
Timour's vicinity to China, where it is believed that
the art of making gunpowder was then known.
Among the ancients, towers, after being undermined,
were supported by wooden frameworks, which, when
set fire to, ceased to support the bastion, and it
consequently fell. I next replied to the Prince's
queries regarding the customs of the Uzbeks. He