Perhaps not. There are some pleasant hours,
however, to look back upon. Kashan, a vision of golden domes and dim,
picturesque caravanserais; Ispahan, with its stately Madrassa and blue
Zandarood, winding lazily through miles on miles of white and scarlet
poppyland; Shiraz, a dream of fair women, poetry, and roses, in its
setting of emerald plain, sweet-scented gardens, and cypress trees.
These, at any rate, are bright oases in that somewhat dreary ride from
Teheran to the sea. And then - nearing India - the quiet midday siesta
after the hot dusty march; the _al fresco_ repast by the light of a
glorious sunset, and the welcome rest and fragrant pipe in the cool
night air of the silent, starlit desert.
[Footnote A: Parts of this palace are of great antiquity, as it
owes its foundation to the Hindu kings who preceded the Mohammedan
dynasty.]
[Footnote B: The Ameer of Afghanistan.]
[Footnote C: I am not at liberty to give the name of my authority for
these facts. The reader may rely on their authenticity.]
[Footnote D: April, 1889. The boring of the tunnel is now
accomplished.]
APPENDIX A.
LIST OF STATIONS AND DISTANCES FROM RESHT TO
BUSHIRE, PERSIA.
English
Miles.
Resht - -
Koudoum - - - - - - 20
Rustemabad - - - - 20
Menjil - - - - - - - - 12
Patchinar - - - - - - 8
Kharzan - - - - - - - 16
Kazvin - - - - - - - - 24
Kavarek - - - - - - - 16
Kishlak - - - - - - - 16
Yengi-Imam - - - - 16
Hessarek - - - - - 16
Shahabad - - - - - 16
_Teheran_ - - - - - 16
Rabat Kerim - - - - 28
Pitche - - - - - - 24
Kushku Baira - - - 16
Mahometabad - - - 28
_Koom_ - - - - - - - - 16
Pasingan - - - - - - - 16
Sin-sin - - - - - - - - 28
_Kashan_ - - - - - - 24
Khurood - - - - - - 28
Bideshk - - - - - - - 24
Murchakhar - - - - 24
_Gez_ - - - - - - - - - 24
_Ispahan_ - - - - - - 12
Djulfa - - - - - - - - - 3
Carried forward - - - - - - - - - 491
Brought forward - - - - - - - - - 491
Marg - - - - - - - - - 12
Mayar - - - - - - - - - 24
Koomishah - - - - - 20
Magsogh-Beg - - - - 16
Yezdi-Ghazt - - - - - 24
Shoulgistan - - - - - 24
Abadeh - - - - - - - - 20
Sourmah - - - - - - - 16
Khina-Khoreh - - - 28
Deybid - - - - - - - - 20
Mourghab - - - - - - 28
Kawamabad - - - - - 24
Sivand - - - - - - - 8
Poozeh - - - - - - - 16
Zergoon - - - - - - 20
Shiraz - - - - - - - 20
Chinar-Rada - - - 8
Khaneh Zinian - - 24
Dashti Arjin - - - - 12
Meyun Kotal - - - 12
Kazeroon - - - - - 20
Kamarij - - - - - - 24
Konar Takta - - - 12
Dalaki - - - - - - - 12
Borazjun - - - - 16
Sheif - - - - - - - 28
- - - - - -
979
From Sheif to Bushire by sea 7
Total English miles 986
APPENDIX B.
