dress of every Persian woman, in hot weather, But there are other noises more peculiar to Persia than these; for, unfortunately there are found in every country wrangling families and ill-tempered wives. Atdawn of day the priests are heard calling the people to prayers, from the tops of the mosques, or places of worship. After these, are heard the sounds of many horns, blown by the keepers of the public baths, to inform the women that the baths are heated, and ready for their reception. These horns set all the dogs howling; the cocks, which are a favorite bird in Persia, begin to crow; and all this mixed with the noise of persons calling to each other, and the cries of children, created a din which soon caused our travellers to rise from their beds, the first morning they heard it, in order to see what was the matter.

But nothing excited their surprise so much as the custom of sleeping, in the summer season, on the tops of their houses; their beds being spread on the flat roof, without any other covering than the sky. [See frontispiece.] The poor seldom had a screen, to keep them from the gaze of passengers; and as Captain Blisset and William generally rode out on horseback, at a very early hour, they per ceived, on the tops of the houses, people either still in bed, or just getting up. At first, no sight could be stranger, but they soon had

their own beds laid on the roof of their house, and found their repose, in the open air, much more refreshing than in the confinement of a

room.

A few days after their arrival at Ispahan, Captain Blisset received a formal visit from the Governor; his Persian friend, the Ambassador, having acquainted him with the ceremony to be observed on these occasions. By his instruc tions, he seated himself in a corner of the apart. ment, and arose, when the other entered, with. out moving from his place. Had a superior visited him, he would then have been received at the door of the house. The conversation that ensued was carried on through the Persian Ambassador; during which, many obliging questions were put to Captain Blisset as to the difference between English and Persian customs, both of them sitting on the ground cros⚫. legged. William, being considered an inferior, was expected to sit upon his heels, which were tucked up under his hams; but no posture could be more irksome to him, although the Persians will continue in it for half a day together; and besides it did not at all agree with the tightness of his pantaloons. Captain Blis set, who, for a long time, had been amused by the grimaces he was making, obtained for him. the Governor's permission to stretch his legs to their full length. On the following morning, at six o'clock, which is the usual hour of visiting C

Captain Blisset, accompanied by William, returned this visit, when he was received with much ceremony, the Governor entertaining them with a concert of music; and, in the evening, they dined with him, the meal being spread on the ground, consisting of sweetmeats, meats of various kinds, and rich sauces; our travelfers, however, could not imitate the other guests in their mode of eating; every one ap...” proaching his chin close to the dish, and scoop ing up the victuals into his mouth with three fingers and a thumb.

Having now satisfied their curiosity at Ispa han, our travellers had begun to find their time hanging rather heavily on their hands, when a Royal Courier arrived with a dispatch from the Persian Court to Captain Blisset, informing him that the king was then at Teherau, about 430 miles north of Ispahan, and had expressed his desire that he should follow thither with the dispatches, and also along with the soldiers sent to discipline his army, and as orders had been given on the different stations, to provide them with horses, they were soon on the road. The journey was not interesting, and we might, therefore, bring our travellers safely to their destination without remark; but that, on the way, they had an opportunity of observing, for the first time, a flight of locusts. On the second day, they were seated in their tents, about noon, when they heard a very unusual noise,

that sounded like the rushing of a great w wind at a distance, and, on looking out, observed an immense cloud, which spread itself over the sky, and, at intervals, shadowed the sun ; this they found to be a flight of locusts; for numbers of these insects soon fell around them, and ̧ were immediately picked up by the poor of the country, who roast and eat them; illus. trating, as Captain Blisset remarked to Wil liam, that passage in Holy Scripture, where. John the Baptist's food is said to have been locusts and wild honey. Wherever these insects settle, they soon eat up every thing green; but providentially, in this instance, this swarm was carried off by a strong wind, to some more distant region.

On approaching Teheran, Captain Blisset was met by a body of cavalry, commanded by a nobleman of high rank. He was mounted upon a fine horse, and surrounded by a numerous body of running footmen; one bearing his pipe; another his shoes; another his cloak ; a fourth his saddle-cloth, &c., the number being proportioned to his rank. The troops, who were well mounted, went through various evolutions, as the procession advanced, dividing into parties, and going through the different movements of a mock engagement.

On their arrival in Teheran, they found the English Ambassador to the court of Persia, ready to receive them at his own house; where,

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those who know how gratifying it is, in a distant laud, to meet a countryman, will readily believe they fixed their abode most willingly. On the following day they proceeded to the palace, and had a private audience of the King. He was seated on an embroidered carpet, iu the corner of a small room, raised higher thau the floor on which they were, and at some distance. When they perceived him, they imme diately bowed with due respect, and continued to approach, until they were stopped at about thirty paces in front of him, where they left their shoes, and walked on the bare stones, Captain Blisset holding up the letter of which he was the bearer: the King then said, you are welcome, come up," when they mounted a narrow light of steps, that led at once into the room. Opposite to him, stood his prime minister, and the Governor of the city, and, on one side, four pages richly dressed; one bearing his crown; a second his sword; a third his bow and arrows; and a fourth his shield and battle-axe. The King then desired Captai Blisset to sit down, which he did on the ground, after which ensued a conversation, in which desi Majesty expressed the high esteem he enter tained for the British and also his gratitude for the men whom the Governor-General of India had sent to Persia, assuring him that during their stay they should be well treated, and at their departure amply rewarded. He