'A second journey through Persia, Armenia, and Asia Minor, to Constantinople, between the years 1810 and 1816. With a journal of the voyage by the Brazils and Bombay to the Persian Gulf. Together with an account of the proceedings of His Majesty's embassy under Sir Gore Ouseley, Bart. K.L.S. With two maps, and engravings from the designs of the author.' [‎392] (463/516)

392 INVITATION TO HUNT WITH THE PRINCE.
two days after the ceremonies were over. With us, the bride and
bridegroom escape from their friends to hide themselves; here it
is the reverse. We formed part of a very numerous assembly, that
was invited to the exhibition of fire-works in the great square of the
city, and were entertained at the expense of the Prince by his Vizier.
The room in which the bridegroom received his bride, was ornamented
by large gold coins (five tomaun pieces), 500 of which were arranged
on the shelves. Part of the Princess's dowry consisted of gold ena
melled slippers. We learnt that the bridegroom was so overawed by
the presence of the Princess, that instead of hastening to receive her,
he shrunk from her approach.
The Prince previous to my departure invited us to a hunt, which
was to take place in the mountains that environ Tabriz. Having dis
posed of my riding horses, I was supplied with a very fine one from
the Prince's stud, accoutred with an English saddle and bridle. We
departed at day-break, and met the Prince, surrounded by his guards
and attendants, just on entering the gorge of the mountains. We
then commenced our ascent up some of the most wild and dangerous
mountains I had ever witnessed, but to which the Prince and his
attendants were quite familiar, and as he rode along them, he con
tinued to converse as coolly as if he was riding on the plain. Having
reached an extreme summit, we dismounted from our horses; and
then a hot breakfast, consisting of the best of Persian cookery was
served up to us, as we sat upon the wild rocks that rose in gro
tesque forms all around us. After this was over, we took our sta
tion, with guns loaded with ball, upon the brink of a deep valley,
through which the game was to be driven. The Prince had over night
sent several battalions of his troops, with their drums to surround and
beat the country, and at the time we arrived at the spot, the game was
to have appeared in the vale, upon the confines of which we were
stationed; but unfortunately the scheme failed. The advance of the
troops had been ill-timed, and the wild goats and antelopes, which
were to have been our prey, had escaped before we appeared.