DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0130
in
ARRIVAL AT TEHRAN. chap. xvi.
each other ; nor is Persia the only country where
such arts are practised.
On the 21st of October I was astir a little after
midnight, to proceed with as little delay as possible
to the capital of the King of kings, but what did my
speed avail me? We had not got many yards from
the caravansary before one of the loads tumbled
from the mule; and while putting it right, another
was kicked off by a horse. We had repaired these
disasters in a night as dark as Tartarus, and were
about to advance, when it was discovered that one
of the other ponies had strayed, and, what was
more alarming, the very one, on which all my
notes, maps, and papers had been packed. My
tongue clove to the roof of my mouth, at the an-
nouncement of such a piece of information, among
thieving Koords, after all the difficulties qf the
journey had apparently terminated. A search of
half an hour recovered the strayed animal, and I
trotted on with all speed to the gate of Tehran,
which I reached at noon. I proceeded to the man-
sion of the British mission, and presented myself at
the outer door as a " Firingee." I was soon met
by Sir John Campbell, the envoy at this court, and
spent with him and his agreeable family a few happy
and pleasant days, marked by the utmost hospitality
and kindness.
After being introduced by the Envoy to the
" pillars of the state," the cabinet ministers of Per-
sia, I had the honour of being presented to his
Majesty, on the 26th of October. Having seen the
Great Mogul himself, and the monarchs of Cabool
ARRIVAL AT TEHRAN. chap. xvi.
each other ; nor is Persia the only country where
such arts are practised.
On the 21st of October I was astir a little after
midnight, to proceed with as little delay as possible
to the capital of the King of kings, but what did my
speed avail me? We had not got many yards from
the caravansary before one of the loads tumbled
from the mule; and while putting it right, another
was kicked off by a horse. We had repaired these
disasters in a night as dark as Tartarus, and were
about to advance, when it was discovered that one
of the other ponies had strayed, and, what was
more alarming, the very one, on which all my
notes, maps, and papers had been packed. My
tongue clove to the roof of my mouth, at the an-
nouncement of such a piece of information, among
thieving Koords, after all the difficulties qf the
journey had apparently terminated. A search of
half an hour recovered the strayed animal, and I
trotted on with all speed to the gate of Tehran,
which I reached at noon. I proceeded to the man-
sion of the British mission, and presented myself at
the outer door as a " Firingee." I was soon met
by Sir John Campbell, the envoy at this court, and
spent with him and his agreeable family a few happy
and pleasant days, marked by the utmost hospitality
and kindness.
After being introduced by the Envoy to the
" pillars of the state," the cabinet ministers of Per-
sia, I had the honour of being presented to his
Majesty, on the 26th of October. Having seen the
Great Mogul himself, and the monarchs of Cabool