'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎16] (47/582)

16
FROM BAGDAD, ACROSS THE DIALA,
reach a thousand feet above the level of the plain below. From
their summits, which were every where rocky and' barren, we saw
before us other more lofty ones, at the distance of fifty or sixty
miles, half obscured in a blue haze.
The whole passage of these hills, from our leaving the western
till our descending on the eastern plain, occupied little more than
an hour ; and from thence we still went on about east-north-east,
towards the town of Kesrabad, now in sight before us, at the
distance of six or seven miles.
We found this portion of the plain watered also by small chan
nels from the Nahr-el-Khan-e-Keen; and several parcels of land
were laid out in dourra, and in cotton plants, both of them now
in verdure, it being the spring of the second harvest.
We were met here by three horse Arabs, who had the hardi
hood to make up towards us at full speed, brandishing their lances
for attack. Two of the Persian horsemen, with their match-locks,
and myself, with a long spear of their own kind, rode off at a gal
lop to meet them, and, firing a pistol in the air as we approached,
oidered them to stand. We neared each other very cautiously, as
the caravan was still half a mile behind, each having his eyes fixed
on his man, in all the suspicion and watchfulness of actual combat,
each with his arms ready-balanced for the stroke, and the warmed
and conscious horses fretting under a tightened curb, and seeming
to upbraid our lingering, by their impatience for the fray. At
length, after some harsh words, the " Salam Alaikum" was ex
changed, our arms were dropped with caution on each side, and
our opponents withdrawing the covering from their faces (which
they always wear across it when rushing on to the attack, to pre
vent their being recognized in cases of blood-revenge), they gave
us a signal of submission and peace, and thus the matter ended
In addressing themselves to me as an Arab, which every part of
my dress and accoutrements bespoke me to be, they were exceed
ingly inquisitive as to the object of my journey eastward, and won
dered at my prompt appearance at the head of a troop of Ajamees