'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎32] (63/582)

32
FROM DASTAGHERD
on a second plain, similar to the first, both in its soil and extent
The traversing this occupied just another hour, when we enjoyed
an extensive view of the plain of Khan-e-Keen, which seemed
to have more verdure and fertility than any grounds we had seen,
since quitting the environs of Bagdad.
Our course across this was about east-north-east, and, when we
had gone an hour and a half, we had, abreast of us on our left, a
small village of mud-built huts, called Butrakus, and near it some
grass and reeded huts, of Arab families. The tribes occupying
this plain, are those of El-Boozweid, El-Mujummah, and El-Beni
Weis; they live together in great harmony, having their separate
portions of land well defined. Unlike the Arabs generally, they
are cultivators of the soil, as well as herdsmen and shepherds :
for this, however, they have to pay a regular tribute to the
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. of Bagdad.
In another half hour we entered the town of Khan-e-Keen,
passed through the first portion of it, crossed the bridge which
connects this to the second, and alighted at an excellent caravan
serai in perfect safety, not having had the slightest cause for
alarm throughout the whole of our journey.
From the circumstance of our having travelled in so small a
party, and from a supposed Arab being at the head of it, there
were so many persons of the town, and travellers halting here on
their journey, who came to hear the news, and pay their respects
to the Hadjee-Aga, that I was occupied the whole of the afternoon
in receiving and entertaining company.
At El-Assr, I washed for prayer, my Dervish having already
perfected me in this ceremony, the prescribed forms of which are
minute and intricate; and taking occasion while I was thus em-
ployed to hint to the visitors that a little repose would be welcome
after devotion, they gradually dispersed, and left me, for a short
period at least alone. I profited by this occasion to take some
clean linen, and go down to the river's side for the double purpose
of washing, and of being unobserved, that I might put to paper