'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.' [‎77] (108/582)

VISITS AT KERMANSHAH, &c.
77
houses, and were entertained after the best manner of the coun
try. All these were gratifying advantages, and afforded me much
unexpected pleasure; but it was still inferior to the gratification
I derived from witnessing at every succeeding interview, so much
of cordial attachment and friendly joy, which unequivocally dis
played itself in those happy meetings of men who evidently
regarded each other sincerely.
Every step of our road from Bagdad thus far, had given me
more favourable impressions of the general character of my com
panion than I had anticipated. The extent of his information,
and the depth of his metaphysical researches, had often surprised
me ; while, though several dark spots tainted his history, there
was nevertheless such a total absence of the meaner qualities
of the soul, so high and independent a spirit, so frank and undis
guised a heart, and so much of charity and benevolence mingled
with every feeling to which it gave birth, that the good seemed to
me to outweigh by far the evil. I could not therefore but feel an
esteem for the man, mixed with a constant and a deep regret that
so much natural talent and overflowing benevolence of disposition
should have been half lost, and half perverted to worthless pur
poses, from the want of a proper bias being given by education
and example in youth.
Ismael, for such was his name, was by birth an Aghwan,
or Affghan, from the country between Hindoostan and Turko-
mania. His father was poor, but avaricious to an extreme de
gree ; and he conceived that it was the constant sight of this
sordid passion displayed before him in its excess, which gave him
a contempt for wealth and worldly honours at an early period
of his life.
His brothers, he said, were of similar dispositions with their
father; and he therefore left them all, before he had attained his
tenth year, and that too without a sigh of regret, excepting only
those with which he answered a fond mother's tears, as she
wept over her darling boy at parting. He promised, however.