fallen, it becomes a wonder how he continues to retain any forces at all and it may be added as a fact, that the Russian Government would give the Major any sum of money to quit the country. Count PASKEWITCH is so jealous of our intimacy with Persia, and so anxious to dislodge us therefrom, that he actually tendered officers to drill the troops entirely at the expense of his own employers; and had it not been for Major HART's local power and influence, the Persians would have accepted of their services. When this officer quits Persia, the whole army must swarm with Russians, whose ambassador will not fail to gain an effectual ascendency*. Is this to be wondered at? the Prince Royal has intreated the Indian Governments to grant him officers upon their former terms; to this they would not listen, so that he must eventually accept the services of Russia. When that day arrives our influence in Persia ceases, perhaps for ever †.

ABBÁS MIRZA has been formally proclaimed heir-apparent to the crown: this has been acknowledged by the two great powers of Europe, but it is a matter of much doubt and uncertainty, whether or not any other member of the reigning family, will ever be established upon the throne. The Kajurs, or royal tribe of Persia, are detested by all classes of people, and when the present Sháh dies, it is not improbable that an attempt will be made to exterminate the whole family. According to

* Since the writer quitted Persia, he has heard with unfeigned sorrow that Major HART is no more. He may be permitted to embrace this opportunity of indulging his feelings by a brief record of his lamented friend. The name of ISAAC HART will not be read even by a common acquaintance without awakening sentiments of the deepest regret, for the loss of so much worth. With good talents he combined an invincible perseverance, a masculine understanding, and an energy of spirit. These endowments were accompanied by qualities of greater value—a purity of principle, a generosity of spirit, and an affectionate temperament of heart, which secured him the respect and regard of every individual of his acquaintance. He was on the eve of revisiting his native country, when unhappily his health broke down. He died at Tabríz, on the 11th day of June, 1830.

It may not be inapplicable here to remark, that much of the success of the Russians in their intercourse with Persia, where their power is gaining the ascendancy over ours, is owing chiefly to the attention they pay to the acquirement of the Persian language; for which purpose there are both at Moscow and St. Petersburgh institutions, where the young men who are destined for missions are early prepared for that service; and it is much to be regretted that no such institution in our own country places it within our power to cope with our neighbours in our relations with Muhammedan countries. The slightest reflection will convince even a common observer, that the negociations of a chargé d'affaires at a Muhammedan court, who communicates personally with the supreme head, is infinitely superior to those of him who is obliged to employ an interpreter, who invariably turns your negociations to his own account, or that of his highest bidder.

OLIVIER, this tribe is of Turkish origin. They took refuge in Persia, under the reign of SHAH ABвás I., whence they received the name of Kajurs, or fugitives.

During my stay at Tabriz, I was presented to ABBÁS MIRZA by his physician, Mr. CORMICK, of the Madras Medical Service. We were received in the hall of audience, which on entering we found so dark after the brightness of the sun to which our eyes had been exposed on the way, that we were unable to distinguish at first the objects within. The room was long and narrow, the floor covered with a carpet, which felt extremely rough when trodden, and which was so thickly embroidered, that the primary material was completely hidden. Upon this carpet, at the corner of the room farthest from the entrance, and in the centre of the border which had no cushions, Prince ABBAS MIRZA reclined. The style of his dress was not different from that worn by all Persians of the higher order. He had on a pelisse of scarlet cloth, lined and bordered with black sable. From his waist projected through the sable the handle of his dagger, mounted with brilliants; and on his right side lay a Damascus sabre, the blade of which seemed to be of a value little inferior to that of its scabbard, which was of gold, enamelled, and ornamented with diamonds, and other precious stones.

In appearance ABBAS MIRZA was about forty-five years of age; his countenance was handsome, though his features were not well-shaped. His eyes were fine, large, and of a deep black; his nose was lofty, and his look imposing, mixed, however, with an expression of ferocity. His jet eye-brows, and long bushy beard, formed so great a contrast with the paleness of his face, that I could scarcely persuade myself paint had not been used. His hands were also delicate, and on one of his fingers he wore a splendid diamond, which he often presented to view by bringing the hand into contact with his beard. He was excessively affable and polite; his manners were highly polished, and his expressions of civility wore that tinge of hyperbole, for which the natives of these countries are so remarkable. Sir ROBERT KER PORTER's likeness of him gave me no idea of his expression of face; but I am told he is much altered since he fell into such habits of debauchery. His conversation turned principally upon the emigration of our countrymen to New South Wales, and of its climate and productions. He was highly amused at our description of the Kangaroo, and would not be persuaded that they were fit for kabobs-but, added he, " I would not hesitate in tasting of them, provided you set me the example; I then should see by your countenance, whether they were good." During the visit, Dr. CORMICK turned every thing I said into an extravagant compliment to the prince, and then demanded of me if it was not what

I intended to express. Dissent was of course impossible, so I allowed him his own way. After remaining in the audience room for about half an hour, we made two low bows, and retired under the escort of the Kaim makám, or prime minister, who accompanied us to the outer court, where we met our horses and returned home.

Not long ago, the Governor of Bombay, Sir JOHN MALCOLM, sent Prince ABBÁS MIRZA a very handsome London-built stanhope, which he sported about the suburbs of the city, and issued a proclamation that his ministers should forthwith provide themselves with similar equipages. The nature of the country is so good, that carriages might drive over it with nearly as much safety as upon a turnpike road. Persia is well adapted for carriages, and with very little trouble good roads might be made, except through the defiles from one plain to another, where the ruggedness of the mountain passes present serious difficulties. This was the case when wheeled-carriages were in use; for DARIUS after the battle of Issus, kept to his car as long as he was in the plain; but was obliged to alight from it, and mount his horse when he came to the mountains. It would have been well, if His Royal Highness had followed this prudent example upon his late hunting pic-nic; for on his attempting to ascend the mountains in his stanhope, the vehicle overturned, and was smashed to pieces, and the Prince had his head nearly broken. I was told that His Highness had chosen the fittest spot for such an achievement. Since this accident, he has quite forgotten to see his orders enforced either in building carriages, or constructing roads. Some of the attachés to our embassy have droskies, which are drawn through the narrow streets of the town by men; after which, their ladies are seated in them, and drive over the surrounding plain.

The Prince Royal is exceedingly fond of hunting and hawking-he generally goes into Karadagh; which is, in fact, his "hunting place." Antelopes, partridges, and bustards are found there in great numbers. Such is the wonderful speed of the first-named animal, that no instance has yet occurred of their being fairly run down, except by relays of horsemen and dogs, after the manner described by XENOPHON of hunting the wild ass. He says, that the horsemen had no other means of catching them, than by dividing themselves into relays, and succeeding one another in the chase: καὶ οἱ μεν ὄνοι, ἐπεί τις διώκοι, προδραμόντες ἂν εἱστήκεσαν (πολὺ γὰρ τοῦ ἵππου θᾶττον ἔτρεχον) καὶ πάλιν ἐπεὶ πλησιαζοι ὁ ἵππος, ταυτὸν ἐποίουν· καὶ οὐκ ἦν λαβεῖν, εἰ μὴ διασταντες οἱ ἵππεις θηρῶεν διαδεχομενοι TOIS ITTOIS. (ANABASIS, lib. i. c. 5.) The antelope is equally common to Persia, as to Arabia, India, and Africa. It is the dopкas, mentioned by XENOPHON, among the wild animals which the Ten Thousand hunted on their march through Syria. The bustards are the rides, for they

possess the same qualities which he describes; making short flights, and tiring very soon. (ANABASIS, lib. i. c. 5.) The natives call this bird the young antelope. They likewise designate the ostrich by the name of a beast, calling it the camel bird. This appellation is apposite, for when the camel is seen on the desert from a distance, it is almost impossible to discriminate the one from the other.

I was often amused in my rambles round Tabríz, at meeting the Muhammedan ladies, who promenaded the streets, enveloped in their chaders. If no native was within hail, (as the sailors would say,) they invariably tossed off their veils, and in a sprightly manner expressed a desire to become better acquainted. The same forward air and manner was also displayed by the women, who often appeared at the latticed windows overlooking the road, and who manifested by their coquetry, and a peculiar laugh of the eye, the expression of delight at the attention they excited. As their faces were highly rouged, and their headdresses gaily adorned, it forcibly called to my recollection, the history of JEZEBEL, how she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at the window*. They have also a busy trifling with their veils, under the pretence of adjusting their hair; during which time they do not fail to make the best use of their large gazelle-like eyes. In speaking of the women, I shall briefly remark that they have intrigue to their fingers' ends-à la Française. The higher classes are extremely profligate; and when engaged in an amour, quit their home, wrapt in their impenetrable chader of one of their female slaves. There is no country on earth where the women have greater opportunities of gratifying their wicked propensities than Persia. Major HART assured me that when the Russians were in possession of Tabríz, most of the Persian nobles fled to the adjacent towns, and left their wives and their slaves in possession of their houses-and of their liberty. These women flocked at nightfall in such numbers to the citadel, where most of the Russian officers were quartered, that the sentries were compelled to repel them with the butt ends of their firelocks, or they would have been completely overpowered by the violent passions of these females. On their admission to the officers, who thought that fear had driven them for protection, they confirmed by expressive looks, and attractive gestures, that the object of their visit was by no means equivocal. I could illustrate this with many facts, but the present one will, I think, be sufficient to show that the Persians have some cause for padlocking

*"And when JEHU was come to Jezreel, JEZEBEL heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at the window."-2 Kings, xi. chap. 30th verse.

their women.

Indeed, the feelings which they have towards them is Zaifah," which we should translate into well expressed in the word “ frailty, or weakness. Shakspeare's celebrated apothegm in Hamlet, Frailty, thy name is woman," is highly characteristic of the Persian ladies.

Before finally quitting Tabríz, I may observe, that during the time of my stay, the weather was in general temperate. The thermometer in the shade ranged from 41° to 51°. The air was kept so constantly loaded with moisture by the melting of the snow, that LESLIE's hygrometer never sunk below 50° in the shade; but when exposed to the sun, it sometimes rose to 95°. The sky was for the most part clear, and the air both keen and bracing.

We quitted Tabríz on the 31st of March, at the hour when the once-worshipped god of the Persians was lifting his glorious forehead over the heights of the city, and from every mosque the Mussulmans' loud voice called on all true-believers to rise to their orisons. Our first stage was made to the village of KHOSRU-SHA'н, distant about four farsangs, or sixteen miles, and seated in the fertile and lovely valley of Uz-Кон. On our route we passed the village of Sardery, which presents itself from an eminence, and occupies the base of a hill, upon the summit of which are the ruins of a fort. From this spot I took some geographical bearings. The city we had left, and the over-hanging mountains were on our right, while the peninsula of Sháhí was on the left. The bed of the salt stream which we crossed previous to our arrival at Tabriz pursued its tranquil course through the plain, from the gorge of the mountains, whence it escapes, to the head of the lake Ourumia, where it discharges itself, and is lost altogether. The disposition of the surrounding plain would lead to the idea, that the lake once extended over it, and such is the delusive effect of the mirage, which plays over its saline surface, that it is very difficult to believe what one sees is and not water. vapour This optical deception has been noticed from the remotest times. It is alluded to by the prophet Isaiah, when he says, " And the parched ground shall become a pool." (Chap. xxxv. 2.) And again," I will make the wilderness a pool of water." (Chap. xli. v. 18.) QUINTUS CURTIUS, in describing ALEXANDER's march. through the Sogdian desert, says, that "the plains wore the appearance of a vast and deep sea," (QUIN. CUR. lib. vii. chap. 5,) which is a true and perfect description of the mirage of the Persian and Arabian deserts. Bishop LowтH has rendered what we read "parched ground," in our Bibles, into "glowing sand," (Isaiah, xxxvth chap. 7th verse,) which is highly expressive of this illusive appearance.—(LowтH's Isaiah, chap. ix. page 88.)

V.