"رحلات في آشور، ميديا، وبلاد فارس، بما في ذلك رحلة من بغداد مروراً بجبل زاغروس وصولاً إلى حمدان، في أكباتانا القديمة، والبحوث في أصفهان وأطلال برسبوليس، ورحلة منها مروراً بشيراز وشابور وصولاً إلى ساحل البحر. وصف البصرة، بوشهر، البحرين، هرمز، ومسقط، وسرد لحملة ضد قراصنة الخليج العربي، مع رسومات توضيحية لرحلة بحرية لنيرتشوس، والمرور ببحر العرب إلى بومباي. [‎٢‎١‎٥] (٥٨٢/٢٤٦)

VISIT TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE CITY. 2] 5
countries through which I had passed; and his observations
seemed to me more intelligent than one generally hears from
Turks in similar situations, though his knowledge of geography
and statistics was equally deficient.
After an hour had passed, during which caleoons were three
or four times presented, and passed from one to another in the
order in which we sat, refreshments were brought in. These
were contained in a number of large oblong trays, which were
placed before the company ; so that, as they sat in three sides of a
square, close to the walls of the room, the trays, when placed end
to end, formed one continued table before the guests, and were
conveniently accessible by every one. Their contents were chiefly
fruits, in great variety and abundance, particularly pears and
melons, which are nowhere in the world thought to be produced
in higher perfection than at Ispahan ; bread of the whitest colour
and best flavour ; cheese equal to English in taste, though dif
ferent in appearance; salads of lettuce and other herbs; milk,
cream, rice, sweetmeats, sherbet of pomegranate juice cooled by
masses of ice; and other similar delicacies, completed a feast of
the most agreeable kind. Water was served to the guests for
washing, both before and after the meal; but coffee is not usually
drunk by the Persians, either in public or in private.
Before we retired, an offer of every thing that the power of
the Governor, or his city of Ispahan, could furnish us with, was
publicly made, and a hope expressed that my stay would be in
every respect agreeable both to my health and wishes. A guard
of honour was appointed also to escort us back to our own resi
dence at the palace; and I felt almost oppressed by the over
whelming honours thus shown to me.
We passed the evening in a walk through the gardens of our
dwelling, and closed it by a supper with the Topjee Bashee and a
party of his public friends.
Oct. 10th.—Horses and attendants were prepared to-day for
an excursion round the royal palaces and grounds, and notice