The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-27
BOSTON BOOKS.
% MIDNIGHT MARCHES THROUGH PERSIA" AN
NOUNCEMENTS.

Boston, jan "a. 1879.
Accurate information respecting the interior of
Persia is not easily gained, says President Scelye in
his introduction to midnight Marches Through Per-
sia the book in the press of Lee Shepard. in
which Mr. Henry Dallantne describes his journey
land which he calls lawless, God-:orsaken and
forsaken. 1.-The Persians themselves do not publish
it.. President Seelye goes on, land the difficulties
and dangers incurred by a foreigner travelling there
many and great that few of these are found
who can tell Of the present condition of country
and people whose history forms conspicuous and
so important portion of the earlier annals of our
race" and he further proceeds to show that Mr..
Ballantine's journey gave him opportunities for
observation, and vouches for his truthfulness The
book is dedicated to the American Geographical So
ciety New York, before which Mr.. Baantine read
two papers in 1876 describing his journey. He was
accompanied his weary pilgrimage by his wife
and child, and was without the protection of being
government messenger of any kind-facts which
make his success all the wonderful His journey
took him from Bushirc. on the Persian Gulf. to
Ispahan, then to Teheran, and then to Resht the
Caspian. through country in which the roads
bad that wheeled vehicle possibly pass
them, even the will OF the Car not being strong
enough to extricate from the mud the wagons on
which he tried years ago to have the machinery of
mint brought his capital. Here and there tele-
graph station recalls the exist. nee of civilized
beings, but the wire is regarded thing of i'll
omen in Persia, significant of the bondage into
which the land will fall if the feringhi be admitted
to it. There rich petroleum springs
Bushire and Mr.. Ballantine thinks that profitable
trade could be built there without much outlay He
lamens the absence of railroads. which might enable
Persia to export the fruit which she produces in
immense quantities. and is of the opinion that gaz
or mama, might be made into very good sweet
meats. This is powder which is produced on the
mountains northeast of Ispahan. 1t is deposited on
the leaves of low bushes and resembles snow. 1t
must be gathered early III the morning as it melts
when tho sun is well up. Mr.. Ballantine gives
interesting description of the Persian method of silk
culture. He has small respect for Persian ways and
manners, and disposes of the English and Russian
Ministers at the Shahs court in this way
Both representatives for the better acting of the
part assigned, strenuously enjoincd by their
home governments to Keep up the most friendly
lations with the Shah Tie Shah fully conprchends
the state Of affairs and makes the best poss BILE of
his peculiar intermediate position In fact, he has
fondy reasoned himself into the ridiculous belief of
of nations. And why not? Here. at his court
the representatives of two of the most powerful
tions fawning and smiling upon him i'll a slavish,
sycophantic manner. This farce is carried to such
an extent, am told by successful English mer-
chant long resident in Persia that private wrongs are
nowhere righted; complaints receive deaf ear;
neither party cares to offend the naughty Shah with
petty demands" the poor foreigner is obliged to
suffer submissivey abandon Persia, and the
result is common verdict declaring the legations
representing the greatest nations ut the Persian
capital to be the biggest humbugs.
In illustration of this he quotes the of Baron
Reuter- who obtained monopoly of the internal
revenue for twenty five years on condition that he
developed the of the Empire. only to have
his plans overset by the moulahs and the of
the harcm England declining to interfere and leav
ing him to console himself best he could.
Among the few announcements are. ''Gwen;
Drama in Monologuo." by the author of can Epic Of
Hades," and Hamerton's Life of Turner" from
Roberts Brothers. The next number of Estes n
Laurats Cobwcb series will be. AT High Price"
translated from the German of L. Werner. Lee n
Shepard have satire in press entitled Back of the
Moon" The collection of Easter hymns to be
sued by this firm entitled "Resurgit." and is to he
edited by Mr.. Frank Foxcroft.