Travels in Assyria, Media, Persia Etc (Paperback)

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. 1830. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER I. FROM BAGDAD, ACROSS THE DIALA, TO KESRABAD OR DASTAGHERD. After my journey from Aleppo to Bagdad, by a circuitous route through Mesopotamia, a severe fever, followed by extreme exhaustion, rendered repose more than usually agreeable to me: and I was fortunate in finding, in the ancient City of the Caliphs, all the comforts of an English home, in the house of the British Resident, Mr. Rich, and the society of his amiable family. My course being directed to India, enquiries had been made as to the comparative facilities of prosecuting the remainder of my way to "the further East," by descending the Tigris and Euphrates to Bussorah, and going from thence on ship-board down the Persian Gulf, or accompanying some caravan into Persia VOL. I. B by land, and passing through Kermanshah, Hamadan, Ispahan, and Shiraz to Bushire, where vessels for Bombay were always to be found. After much consideration, the latter course was adopted, as being, on the whole, more favourable to certainty and expedition, as well as attended with the advantage of a better climate, which, 'considering my state of debility from previous suffering, and the intense heat of the season that still prevailed, was a matter of the first importance. The last days of my stay at Bagdad were therefore passed in making preparations for the further prosecution of my Eastern journey by this route. Sept. 3rd.--We had been put off, from day to day, with assurances of a Persian Ambassador's being about to return to Teheran, in whose train we might make a safe entry into Persia. He had performed his pilgrimage to the tombs of Ali and Hossein, as well as to that of Imam Moosa, near Bagdad, and now only wanted the permission of the Pasha to commence his journey homeward. This had been promised him ...