'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.' [‎253] (284/582)

INTERVIEW WITH THE KHAN. £53
Persepolis, which I was of course desirous of visiting. As the
troop were to set out to-morrow for Shiraz, and we had already
confessed ourselves destined for that place, it was concluded that
we should go with them. I suffered this impression to remain
undisturbed; but in our enquiries about the eastern road by
Choulgistan, as we did not know it ourselves, the person who had
secretly engaged to lead us into it during the night betrayed our
confidence, and the impression of our being highwaymen was
therefore complete. A party of the soldiers, who occupied cham
bers near us, were set as guards over us, to see that we did not
escape; and orders were issued from their commander, to whom
the matter was reported, that we should be taken into safe cus
tody, and conveyed with them to Shiraz, to answer for ourselves.
This had now become a serious affair, without any apparent
remedy ; for, though I believed the disclosure of my being an
Englishman, and the sight of the letters and passports which
Assad Ullah Khan had procured me, in case of need, from the
Governor of Ispahan, would have immediately liberated us ; yet I
was not willing to betray too hastily, as an Englishman, my as
sumption of a character so venerated among them as a pilgrim
from the tomb of their Prophet.
After remaining some time under arrest, I had an invitation
from the Khan, or chief of the troops; and on my visit I found
him at prayers. Our first exchange of salutes was friendly and
cordial: and on my reproaching his people with want of hospi
tality, I was invited by him to sit down,—was given the place of
honour,—and served with caleoons and tea. The motive of our
journeying thus alone was then asked, and answered satisfactorily.
I then entertained the chief with a long account of Massr, or
Egypt, my supposed country, and particularly of the great assem
blage of pilgrims who met there annually to proceed to Mecca,
and who journeyed together without understanding any more of
each other's language than their common profession of faith, ' La
Illah ul Ullah, oua Mohammed el Russool Ullah.'— 4 There is but