considering the difficulty one meets with in preaching Christ in these dark countries, my mind was lifted up to our heavenly Father, imploring the assistance and direction of his Spirit. Oh! these are happy moments at all times, as long as the soul is able to pour forth her sighs to her beloved; this sweetens all hardships and all persecutions! Haje Sheikh Mohammed highly praised the following historical books, written in Persian: Tabaree, Rawsat As. soofa, and Habeeb Ussiar. It is perhaps not generally known, that one Ameer Sheer is the author of Rawsat Assoofa. DEATH OF CHRIST. Haje Sheikh Mohammed, as well as other Mullahs, tell me, that the death of Christ is believed by some Mohammedans, though the Koran attempts to persuade, that his likeness only was crucified. Haje Sheikh Mohammed looked into my journal, and desired me to translate something for him; I translated to him a prayer; he seemed to be, delighted with it. Denamack was the last place of Irak. KHOROSSAUN. Sept. 29.-We arrived at Lasgird, the first small place in the province of Khorossaun. In this place, some of the Persians speak the Pehlevee language; for on asking them what language they spoke, they replied, the Pehlevee, of which only a few words were intelligible to me, and this was confirmed to me by the Guebres of Semnan, who spoke the same language, as it appeared to me, and gave it the same name. ARRIVAL AT SEMNAN. Sept. 30.-We arrived at Semnan. Bahman Mirza, son of the King of Persia, is Governor of this place, as well as of Damghan. I had several letters of recommendation to him: one from his mother, the other from Khosroe Khan, and the third from the Sille Sultan and from his brother Malek Kasem Mirza. As His Royal Highness had just made an excursion to Damghan, I sent the letters after him, by one of the Guebres, who were building his palace at Semnan; for the Guebres are to this day skilful in building. The plague was just raging at Semnan; we were therefore not admitted into the town, more especially as the Prince was absent. Semnan is 24 miles from Lasgird, containing perhaps 12,000 inhabi tants. Semnan, Bustan and Meshed, are the only three places in Khorossaun, governed by royal Princes of Persia ; all the rest of Khorossaun is ruled by Khans, who, up to the time of my arrival in Khorossaun, were only slightly subject to the King of Persia. Every village in this country is fortified, on account of the continual invasions of the Turkomans, of which I shall have occasion to speak more at large. The Khans keep this country in continual disturbance by feuds among themselves; some of them being in secret understanding with the Turkomans. Even Bahman Mirza, the Prince Governor of Semnan, had just gone to Damghan, for the purpose of driving out from thence Mohammed Ali Khan, whom he had placed there as Vice Governor, and who had rebelled against his authority; he succeeded in driving him out, but that Governor retired to a fortress, called Dawlat-Abad. Bahman Mirza marched with 1000 men, for the purpose of driving him from thence; but Arghuwan Mirza, the son of Hassan Ali Mirza, late Prince Governor of Meshed, though nephew of Bahman Mirza, assisted Mohammed Ali Khan against Bahman Mirza, so that the latter was obliged to retire from Dawlat-Abad. The Guebres of Semnan were very kind to me; I preached the Gospel to them. These amiable people have still their ancient Parsee names: as Key Khosroe, Shahr-Yaar, Jamsheed, Bijand, Mehraboo, Rostam, Rasheed, Seroosh, &c. October 1.-We arrived in the caravan-seray of Aghwan, 24 miles from Semnan. Imam Resa is said to have preformed a miracle here. Oct. 2.-We arrived near Dawlat-Abad, the place of the rebel Mohammed Ali Khan; who says however, that as soon as the King shall order him to deliver DawlatAbad to Bahman Mirza, he will be ready to do so: but it is said, that Mohammed Ali Khan had bribed the King, so that he did not send such an order. Mohammed Ali Khan ordered the gates of Dawlat-Abad to be shut; and in case Bahman Mirza should pass the town on his way from Damghan to Semnan, salutes should be fired; but His Royal Highness should not be permitted to come into town. I learnt that Abbas Mirza was expected to come to Khorossaun, on his way to Khiva and Bokhara. DEFINITION OF AN EASTERN KING. Haje Sheikh Mohammed gives me the following definition of an Eastern King. "A tyrant, who robs others of their property, commits violence, eats and drinks well, blackens his beard, and does nothing for the good of his country." ARRIVAL OF BAHMAN MIRZA. Bahman Mirza passing my tent, told me, that he had received letters respecting me, and therefore gave me a letter of recommendation to his brother Ismael Mirza, Prince Governor of Bustan. He left an officer to accompany me as far as Damghan. In the evening I arrived at Damghan, where I took up my abode with Mohammed Wale Khan, the Vice-Governor of Damghan. I met there Abbas Khan, of the Kajar tribe; the same tribe as that of Fatullah Shah. The people coming to Mohammed Wale Khan, had the appearance of being in a disturbed state of mind; they were continually expressing apprehensions of Mohammed Ali Khan of Dawlat-Abad surprising the town at night, and whilst they were talking, soldiers of Mohammed Ali Khan had actually made an attempt to enter the town, but soon after retired. Mohammed Wale Khan asked me the difference between those Christians who have beards, and those who have none. I told him, that among Europeans, Friars only have beards. I told him the object of my travels, and offered Mohammed Wale Khan a Bible; but he declined my offer. Hitherto the people have been rather kind to me than otherwise. SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF DAMGHAN. Damghan is at present inhabited by 6000 Mussulmans, mostly Khorossaun people, and a few Turkomans. Damghan is said to have been built by King Hushenk, 5217 years ago. It was formerly a flourishing city, but was ruined by the tyranny of Nadir Shah, and after his death, Assad Khan of Cabool came, and carried the inhabitants of Damghan captives to Cabool. Balkh in Bactria, Nishapoor and Damghan in Khorossaun, are considered by the Mussulmans of Khorossaun, to be the most ancient cities in the world. Around Dawlat-Abad, Damghan, Sharoot and Boostan, the country is beautiful; it is a complete paradise, full of vineyards and pomegranate trees. Oct. 4.-I set out for Boostan, a city built fifty years ago. The castles which are found in every village of Khorossaun, are called by the natives Ark, which seems to correspond with the English word ark, and the German arche; (the name of Noah's ship) or else they are called Boorg, which corresponds with the English and the German word burg. We passed the village called Kader Abad, where formerly a Vizier of Nadir Shah resided. We came near Haddada, governed by Mohammed Mokeem Khan. Just before we approached the place, we saw a Khorossaun Mussulman running swiftly, saying that his wife had run away with another man. We rode after him, to see what he would say to her; for she was not distant from us. On meeting her, he spoke kindly to her, and persuaded her to go back with him. She was, as the Persians call such women, a Cowly (a loose character); she sat upon her ass, and rode back. This reminded me of Judges xix. 3. ARRIVAL AT HADDADA. On our entering the Fort of Haddada, Mokeem Khan, escorted by his whole train of servants, came out to meet me, and gave me a sad (welcome), brought me to a comfortable room, and was delighted that I spoke Persian. prayer. I spoke to them about the efficacy of The Mehmundar,* who was sent with me to Haddada, had orders from Bahman Mirza, to kill the horses of Mohammed Ali Khan of Dawlat-Abad, if he should ever meet with one of his horsemen. When staying with Mokeem Khan, one of the horsemen of Mohammed Ali Khan was there, but was concealed by Mokeem Khan. KHANS OF KHOROSSAUN. In order to give a distinct idea of those Khans (Lords) in Khorossaun, I think it well to mention, that these hereditary and feudal Lords of Khorossaun, exactly resemble the feudal Lords of Germany in ancient times. They pay a yearly tribute, consisting of horses, to the Shah of * Mehmundar, is a servant of the Governor, sent with a foreigner to prepare lodgings. Such servants are given particularly to European travellers. |