116

COURT OF PERSIA.

CHAP. XVI.

that I felt myself at once free from embarrassment,
and in the closest conversation with the " Asylum
" of the World." He desired me to enumerate the
cities which I had visited; and I ended the long
list by saying, that the favour of God had at last
brought me to his august capital. He exclaimed
in a tone of surprise, " Why, a Persian could not
" have done so much. But what led you to
" undergo the dangers and fatigues of such a jour-
" ney?" I replied, that it had been curiosity. "Did
" you travel as an European ?" I told him I did so.
" It must have cost you much money ;" but his
Majesty had a hearty laugh when I told him that
we owed our release among the Toorkmuns to two
gold ducats and a little tea. " Have you taken
" no'es of your journey ?" said the Shah. " Yes,'
replied I, " I have measured the mountains, ex-
" amined the roads, and sounded the rivers."
—" These people are lions," exclaimed the as-
tonished monarch. " JBele, bele," echoed his min-
isters, "they are tigers, they are Roostums." —
" Give me a sketch of the affairs of Cabool," con-
tinued the King : " tell me the power of the chief
" and his brothers ;"—with all of which I complied,
adding, as a courtier, that the ruler owed his power
to the Persians he retained in his interests. He
made enquiries as to their tribe and number, on
which points I satisfied his Majesty. The Shah
then put like questions on the power of all the
chiefs between India and Persia, questioned me
about the road over Hindoo Koosh, and particu-
larly on the capability of the Oxus, which he called