'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.' [‎138] (169/582)

138
FROM KERMANSHAH
of pleasure, rather than to be on a journey, I was surprised
to see a gaily dressed female unveiled, riding a spirited horse,
on a man's saddle, and talking and laughing loudly with those
around her. As we approached nearer, she asked us with great
freedom whither we were going; and wished us a safe jour
ney, under the protection of God. Ismael replied, " A1 Ullah !"
and, perhaps chiefly by the sound of his voice, she immediately
recognised him as an old acquaintance. The meeting, the saluta
tions, the caresses, though all speedily ended, as we were both on
our way in opposite directions, were singular enough. This lady
had been the most noted Suzemaneeah, or courtezan, of Kerman-
shah, for many years, and had held sovereign sway ever since the
Shah Zade himself had resided here. In her youth, it was said
that she was a great favourite of that prince ; but she had now
grown too old for the taste of royalty in the East, though she
would have been still young enough for the companion of some
distinguished personages of the West, « being fat, fair, and forty."
It was said that she had been with these gentlemen at some
retired seat or garden in the country, and had acted as procuress
for the party.
As we advanced easterly, we drew progressively nearer to the
range of Bisitoon on our left, which rose abruptly from the plain,
and terminated in ragged masses and points, the most elevated
summit of which seemed to be about three thousand feet from the
base. The great body of the mountain was apparently of lime
stone, judging from the greater portion of the fragments below ;
but among these were pieces of a stone like porphyry, some of
speckled red, others of greenish white, and others of speckled
black, of all of which I preserved specimens * The plain here
became contracted on our right, though the southern range of
oo i Seeah, leading south-easterly from Kermanshah, had conti-
to extend in that direction, by which we widened our dis-
Londolb 680 Were glVen ^ a friend ln India ' and afterwards sent to the Geological Society of