Personal narrative of a journey from India to England, by Bussorah, Bagdad, the ruins of Babylon, Curdistan, the Court of Persia, the Western shore of ... Moscow and St Petersburgh, in the year 1824

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1827 Excerpt: ... the variegated light of which was reflected on the group of surrounding courtiers, and tinged with a silvery hue the neighbouring fountain. This was the outline–-imagination filled up the picture. I did not stipulate for my privilege as an INTERVIEW wrrn THE PRINCE. 153 Englishman, to be seated in the Prince's presence, fearing that, if I did, I should not obtain an interview; so I was obliged to stand before him. I was presented by his Mehmaundaur, whose motions of reverence I imitated. His Highness's manner was haughty, but it seemed habitual and not assumed. He asked me several questions, mostly respecting himself: to these I always tried to give a reasonable answer; but the Mehmaundaur, pretending to attribute my plainness of language to ignorance of idiom, turned every thing I said into an extravagant compliment to the Prince, and then asked me if that was not what I intended to say. To dissent was impossible; so I let him have his own way, and thus all parties were pleased. June 3.–We reached Serah Dahn, a march of twenty-two miles, in seven hours. The village is small, but surrounded by extensive fields of corn ready for the sickle. June 4.-From Serah Dahn to Aubhaur, 154-AUBHAUR. thirty-one miles, was an uninteresting march, over a succession of low hills. Aubhaur stands in the midst of a clump of trees, and is surrounded by a well-cultivated tract of land. The Persians assign it a' high anti-quity. As we devoted the few hours of our stay to rest, we did not ascertain whether there were any ancient ruins. From the coincidences in the sound of the name, and from the geographical relation of the place to others, it is supposed to be " Habor, by the river Gozan," where Hoshea, King of Assyria, carried Israel away captiv...