DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0129
chap. xvi. GOOD MAHOMMEDANS.
113
had swallowed it along with the paper in which it
was packed.
We made three marches to Tehran, a distance of
ninety miles, halting by the way at the hovels of
caravansarais, which the traveller finds in this part
of Persia, where he alights in the same room with
his horse. The country was arid, bleak, and miser-
able, and the number of villages most limited. We
had no signs of approaching the metropolis of a
country. An incident occurred near Baumein, the
last stage, which should not be omitted : one of my
" yaboos," or ponies, had sunk under his load, and
I went into a village to hire another ; I succeeded in
my suit, and paid the price of the animal to a Koord
with whom I made the bargain, and was about to re-
sume my journey. " Will you not purchase my
mule," said he, " in exchange for your worn out
{ yaboo,' " and give me the difference ?" I entered
into conversation, and found that the Koord took me
for a native of Khorasan, and it was therefore use-
less to tell him I was an European. I certainly
wished for his mule, and as I looked at it he said,
with considerable solemnity—" Now, as we are both
* good Mahommedans, let us conclude a bargain
" and not cheat each other." I added, " Be it so,"
and after a little conversation we settled all matters.
His mule had, as I afterwards found, a broken back,
and my yaboo had an incurable disease; but then
it was as apparent to the Koord as it was to myself
Such was the settlement of a bargain between two
good Mahommedans, who resolved to act fairly by
"VOL. Ill, I
113
had swallowed it along with the paper in which it
was packed.
We made three marches to Tehran, a distance of
ninety miles, halting by the way at the hovels of
caravansarais, which the traveller finds in this part
of Persia, where he alights in the same room with
his horse. The country was arid, bleak, and miser-
able, and the number of villages most limited. We
had no signs of approaching the metropolis of a
country. An incident occurred near Baumein, the
last stage, which should not be omitted : one of my
" yaboos," or ponies, had sunk under his load, and
I went into a village to hire another ; I succeeded in
my suit, and paid the price of the animal to a Koord
with whom I made the bargain, and was about to re-
sume my journey. " Will you not purchase my
mule," said he, " in exchange for your worn out
{ yaboo,' " and give me the difference ?" I entered
into conversation, and found that the Koord took me
for a native of Khorasan, and it was therefore use-
less to tell him I was an European. I certainly
wished for his mule, and as I looked at it he said,
with considerable solemnity—" Now, as we are both
* good Mahommedans, let us conclude a bargain
" and not cheat each other." I added, " Be it so,"
and after a little conversation we settled all matters.
His mule had, as I afterwards found, a broken back,
and my yaboo had an incurable disease; but then
it was as apparent to the Koord as it was to myself
Such was the settlement of a bargain between two
good Mahommedans, who resolved to act fairly by
"VOL. Ill, I