'Travels in Beloochistan and Sinde; accompanied by a geographical and historical account of those countries, with a map.' [‎240] (282/476)

sheeraz.
dred were in as direct a line, as the paths would admit, fiom east to
west; and yet this was the first place in which I had seen a running
stream sufficiently deep to have taken a horse above the knee, a con
clusive proof of the extraordinary aridity ol the intermediate countries;
and furnishing an example perhaps unparalleled on the face of the
globe, when the diversity of soil, temperature, and appearance ol the
surface, that I found in them, is taken into consideration.
After passing the Koolbar, we advanced five miles, and having
halted for a few hours, moved on again six miles across the plain.
Here we entered a narrow valley, between two high ranges of moun
tains, which continued in a direct westerly line thirty-four miles to
the plain of Sheeraz, which city I had the satisfaction of reaching
about nine a. m. on the morning of the Sth June. I immediately
went to the palace of Mohummud Nubee Khan, the minister of
Fars, who directed one of his servants to accompany me to the
house occupied by Lieutenant Little ot the Madias Native In
fantry, which officer had remained at Sheeraz, on the advance
of the mission to court, as one of the political assistants of
Brigadier General Malcolm, to transact any business that might
arise between the Ambassador and the Government of Pars. About
two hours after my arrival, the Minister sent several trays of sweet
meats and fruit, as a present of welcome to me, together with his
formal inquiries after my health, and I once more began to fancy
myself a British officer.
On the Qth of June I visited the Minister, who received and treated
me with great cordiality and attention. On the 11/^1 was intro
duced to Prince Mohummud Allee Meerza, who is Beglerbeg of the
Province of Pars, and Governor of the city of Sheeraz. He is a
remarkably handsome young man, and was most superbly dressed in
a vest entirely covered with pearls and precious stones ; and the st} le
and etiquette of his court was quite correspondent in magnificence
and splendour with his own person. There was, however, nothing in
the reception different from the common forms. I chatted for some
ii