'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.' [‎303] (334/582)

TOMB OF SHAH MIRZA HAMZA. 303
so powerful is the influence of a well-grounded faith and previous
persuasion. The Soofees believe that souls arrived at such a state
of wisdom and purity as those of Hafiz and Saadi, have a perfect
knowledge of all that is going on in the present world; and that
they thus still take an active part in the direction of its affairs.
My Dervish, Ismael, firmly believed the hand of Hafiz to have
directed the opening of the leaves of the book to us all; and in
sisted on it that the poet knew the hearts of all present. Tra
velling Dervishes from all parts of the East come here occasionally
to occupy the few chambers that are set apart for them ; but the
place itself, with the Book of Hafiz, and the tomb, are all under
the charge of a Moollah of Shiraz. The Persians, however, do not
come here to drink wine, and pour libations on the tomb of
their favourite poet, as has been asserted by some. Those who
drink wine in Persia, at the present day, do it more secretly ; and
respect for learning and talents is not so general, as to draw many
visitors here on that account alone.
From hence we went to the large tomb of Shah Mirza
Hamza, a son of Imam Moosa. It is a spacious edifice, crowned
by a lofty dome, and stands close to the road on the left when
going towards Shiraz. The exterior is much injured, and falling
fast to decay; the interior is in somewhat better preservation.
The tomb of the saint is enclosed in a frame-work of wood, with
a grating of brass bars ; and on it are many pious offerings of
silver vessels, with a copy of the Koran, and many gilded tablets
written over in Arabic. # The decorations of the roofs and walls
are later than the construction of the edifice itself; they are
ascribed to Kurreem Khan, who died before they were completed,
and they have never since been continued. After seeing the
other Persian monuments of a similar kind, this has nothing
* Shah Mirza Hamza, whose tomb is at Shiraz, was the eldest son of Sultan Mahomed,
one of the early SufFavean kings, and fell under the blow of an assassin named Hoodee, a
barber, who stabbed him in his private apartment, and effected his escape.— Hist, of Persia,
vol. i. p. 521.