'A Journey through Persia, Armenia, and Asia Minor, to Constantinople, in the years 1808 and 1809, in which is included some account of the proceedings of his Majesty's Mission, under Sir Harford Jones, Bart., to the Court of the King of Persia. With twenty-five engravings from the designs of the author; a plate of inscriptions; and three maps.' [‎182] (251/524)

182
ISPAHAN TO TEHERAK.
take a fresh departure. Even this became impracticable, for the
town was not to be found. The Mehmandar then, seemingly in great
trouble, went forward himself to seek the place, and after much
delay returned to us, bringing along with him a poor wretch, whose
hands he had tied behind his back, and to whom he occasionally
administered blows. This was our new conductor, but he was so
much frightened, that he could not proceed, until the Envoy pledged
himself, that he should meet with no harm; but on the contrary
should receive a reward of fifteen tomauns, if he led us in safety to
Kinar~a~gircL We again advanced, and were again unsuccessful; our
new guide was more perverse or more stupid than his predecessors,
and we were once more obliged to return in the hope of regaining
the caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). . In search of this place we roamed about four long
and melancholy hours, hearing the cries of wanderers, as we supposed
like ourselves, in all parts of the plain. Unfortunately we had then
no compass with us, nor was there a star to be seen that might direct
us. At length however we espied a light, which happily proceeded
from the walls of our caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). , and guided us again to it.
We departed again the next morning, and discovered to our sur
prise that the road, which to us had been rendered so intricate, led
straight to the opening of the mountains through which we were to
pass. It was impossible therefore to wander from it except pur
posely, and the Mehmander at length acknowledged that he had
himself contrived the delay, and the mortification of the preceding
night. The Envoy refused to speak to him, threatened a complaint
to the King, and terrified him so effectually, that with every oath
common to a Persian, he cursed himself as " an old fool, and a stupid
" senseless wretch/' The Envoy at length relented, and assured him
that he had nothing to fear. At the distance of six miles from Pool
Dallauk, we entered the swamp of Kaveer y which (to its termination
at the caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). called Haooz Sultan) we crossed in three hours,
a length of ten miles. It is part of the great desert which reaches into
Khorassan^ the soil of which is composed of a mixture (at least equal)