'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.' [‎102] (133/582)

102
DESCRIPTION OF KERMANSHAH,
greatness of his influence to the firmness of his general conduct,
and his personal superintendance of public business, a duty which
is said to be neglected by his brothers. His sway is called a mild
one, though, but on the evening of yesterday, two men were, by his
order, blown off from the cannon's mouth for some trifling offence,
which would not have incurred, even in Turkey, a higher punish
ment than the bastinado. He is, however, a great speculator and
trader, and encourages commerce in others, as far as such a dis
position in himself will admit of it without thwarting his own
personal interests.
Being in a manner the founder of the town in its present state
of opulence (for before his reign its improvement was very incon
siderable), he takes a pride in embellishing it by public works ; and
this, as it adds much to the comfort as well as attractions of the
town, ensures him the praise of all parties. A large palace near
the centre of the city, for himself, a country house surrounded by
gardens for his harem, and a spacious mosque near his own resi
dence for the public use, have been built from his own funds,
without any extraordinary contributions. The whole range of
streets, bazars, caravanserais, baths, &c. which are now erecting, are,
however, building from advances of their future occupiers, in loans
to the Prince, on the faith of his promise, that the sums shall be
accounted for in their annual rents. The Prince is therefore the
great owner of the land, and of the buildings; and as his will is
law, the rents will no doubt be so regulated, as to return him an
enormous profit, in which case, instead of a munificent adorner of
a city of his own founding, he can be regarded only as a monied
speculator in possession of an unrestrained monopoly.
The force of the city is not at all equal to its real importance,
as the western frontier town of an extensive kingdom. It had not,
as far as I could perceive, at present, a single cannon mounted on
its walls. Several fine long brass pieces, of Persian foundry, and
apparently very old, were lying about on the ground before the
Prince's palace, and in another public square; and there was in