to him the reafon of fo extraordinary a vifit; but defired to be conducted to his own lodgings. The moft ftupid and ungenerous have their fits of benevolence, our Author had the pleasure to see victuals fet before him, with water to wash, and a pan of charcoal to warm him. At length he was conducted to his lodgings, where he found his Ruffian fervant, who had fupported himself under his fatigue, and being extremely faithful, had been in the utmost anxiety on his master's account.

The next day the Khan having made a forced march, thought himself out of danger; for Sadoc Aga, with the Turkumans had defifted from the purfuit; the Khan therefore gave his women in charge to Shahverdie Beg, and went to Tunicabune. Shahverdie Beg, who had before fhewn Mr. Hanway fome inftances of his good nature, being now detached from the Khan, treated him with greater civility; but having no conveniencies of life with him, more than related to his own perfon, he could. fupply him with nothing but provifions. In Perfia it is not customary for any man in travelling to come near the women, except their Lord, or his fervants but the circumftances they were in prevented a fcrupulous regard to this prac tice, and Mr. Hanway, had once the office, which is not the most dignified in that empire, of guarding the women with his blunderbufs. The roads through the woods were still very marshy, while the fand on the shore, and the trees which the fea had washed down, rendered travelling very disagreeable; but the temperate

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perate quality of the air was extremely refreshing. Mr. Hanway now first observed the delightful fituation of many receffes in the mountains, where they have plenty of fine running ftreams, with a profufion of vines, orange and lemon-trees.

In twenty three days fince the city of Aftrabad was taken by the rebels, Mr. Hanway had not enjoyed an hour of fecurity or unbroken fleep, He was now drawing near to Langarood, which he had left feven weeks before, and was as defirous of feeing it again, as if it had been his home; when Mr. Elton being inform ed that he was on the road, fent Mr. Loftus his interpreter, with a fervant and one of his best horfes to meet him.

CHAP.

The Author's kind Reception by Mr. Elton. He goes in fearch of the Shah. Is received with great Politeness by Hahdgee Zamon. The Perfian Manner of Eating, and the Nature of their Beds. A Defeription of the City of Calbin, and of the Palace built by Nadir Shah, with the most material Events till his arrival at the Perfian Camp.

UR Author on his arrival at Langarood was received by Mr. Elton with open arms, and congratulated on his having escaped with his liberty and life. His legs and feet were much fwelled and bruifed, his boots not having been off for fixteen days, and he was obliged to stay fome time to provide fresh cloathing, he not having faved any part of what he carried to Aftrabad.

Mr. Hanway having informed Mr. Elton where he had left Matteufe, his interpreter, and the other Armenian fervants, with Mr Hogg, his clerk, whofe fituation he was afraid would expofe him to fome misfortune, Mr. Elton immediately fent fervants and horfes in queft of him, and after a few days he was brought to Langarood. He had overtaken Mahommed Khan, who had provided him a horfe, for which he was to pay a confiderable price, though the beaft

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beaft fell under him, before he had advanced two miles. Mr. Hogg now appeared as a man expiring in a lingering confumption: he had been two days and three nights exposed to the cold and rain without any food or shelter; five times robbed, and at last left almost naked, and being often in danger of his life, was at length relieved by the charity of fome dervices, whofe retreat in the mountains he had the good fortune to discover. But Matteufe, and the other Armenian left at Balfrush, did not come home till three weeks after, and efcaped these fevere hardships. At that town they received a paffport from Sadoc Aga, under his feal, the pompous style of which, confidering his circumftances, may give an idea of the ideom of the the oriental languages, as well as of Perfian folly. To the victorious armies be it known, "that Matteuse the Armenian is here. Let him "not be molefted, but live under our fha"dow."

Mr. Hanway now took leave of Mr. Elton, and fet out for Refhd. He foon found that though Ghilan was faid to have suffered less than any other province of Perfia by the wars and. cruelties of Nadir, yet the villages were in a ruinous condition. From Langarood to Labijan is feven miles. The latter being fituated on an eminence, is efteemed the most healthy place in the province; for here the mountains open a paffage for the wind. The rains had filed a large pot of ground, and formed a fquare regular piece of water, in which were abundance of wild fowl. In the center stood a

grove upon a rifing ground, that ferved to beautify the profpect, and render it as delightful as the rudenefs of the feafon would admit. Here he was received by Hahdgee Zamon, who was diftinguifhed for his good fenfe, as well as his authority in that place.

The Habdgee complained aloud of the Shah's cruelty, and of the inhumanity of those employed by him. Supper being brought in, a fervant prefented a bafon of water, and with a napkin Aung over his shoulder, went to every one in the company, and poured water on their hands to wash. A large falver, in the form of a tea-board, was fet before every perfon, covered with a plate of pleo, on which was a fmall quantity of minced meat mixed up with fruits and fpices. There were also plates of comfits, feveral china bafons of fherbets, as fweet, four, and other waters, with cakes of rice, and others of wheat flower, on which were sprinkled the feed of poppies, and others of the like nature. As they esteem it an abomination to cut any kind of bread or meat, after it is dreffed, thefe cakes are made thin, that they may be eafily broken with the hand, and their meat, which is generally mutton or fowls, is fo prepared, that they divide it with their fingers. When every thing is fet in order before them, they eat fast, and without any ceremony with their fingers, greafing their hands, and fmearing their beards.

This title is given to all who have gone in pilimage to Mecca.

Supper