'Through Persia on a side-saddle' [‎52] (83/360)

THROUGH PERSIA ON A SIDE-SADDLE
white slabs in the graveyards, but everything is, as a rule,
falling into decay, even to the domed erections put up to
the memory of the rich dead. As the Persians take grave
stones without ceremony to bridge over bad places, to mend
their mud walls and so on, it is a wonder that any one cares
to go to the expense of erecting a monument, knowing
what, in all probability, its ultimate destination will be.
The whole of the next day we had a gale, and violent
dust-storms, life in camp being anything but pleasant
under such circumstances. The sand drifted into the tents,
covering our clothes and faces, getting into our hair and
eyes, and invading our food in appreciable quantities, while
the ferashes (tent-pitchers) were employed every ten
minutes in hammering down the tent-pegs as the gusts
of wind pulled them out, and in arranging boxes and
packing-cases on the felt edging of the tents to prevent
these latter from being blown away bodily. The whole
landscape was hidden by a murky, yellow cloud of sand,
and it was a relief when heavy floods of rain came down
and somewhat abated the hurricane.
Although it was a cold and dreary morning when we
left Kuhpah, yet we could see that spring had come even
to these desolate regions. Clumps of mauve crocuses
were blossoming among the thorns, many of which were
bursting into bud and leaf; a most unpromising-looking
shrub was a mass of pink flowers resembling ' London
pride ; while a species of mimosa was covered with
tender green leaves, though still retaining the dried-up
blossoms of last year. As my brother quoted to me from
the ' Gulistan' of Sadi: "Not only the nightingale in the
rose-bushes sings his hymn of praise, but every thorn is
itself a voice of adoration to the Deity."