Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-04-15
Mountaineering in Persia.

Under ihis title, in the Marcb H.
tuyy, the Hon. S. G. w. Beniamir e'''
tributes an Illustrated description ( ~
jaunt through the mountains of por4;
This is the way we were obIioaJ,
prepare for the trip in order M roa.}
our destination. 1t was essential G..,
we should take with MS tents. balJ,1
crockery, and sufficient anjnal.
carry ourselves, the servants. and n
outfit. This required the emr,o,unn.
OF much talking and of an occasionoi
thrashing when the insolence of ,b'
char ta3drS. or muletecrs. interior
with the clinching OF a bargain. Af.o,
several days Of preparation all seemed
ready for the start One curious c;r
cumstancc about the journey, however
was the fact that we were obliccd :,
journey by night. The great heat malo.
it impossible to travel in Persia IN H.,
middle OF the day during the greaterpor
of the year. Our departure was therefor
so timed that we could have the benef,
OF the full moon. Once on the road and
winding through narrow lanes at a
moderate walk, we were able 10 obsorvo
what an imposing procession we made
AT the head rode the glt0dar, or eoucr-
ry, mounted on white Shirazee Arab
stallion. Two gentlemen followed. and
next them came several ladies on dom
keys. The tachtraCnB was next in or
der, carrying the invalid of the party
This is curious vehicle pee uliar toPGr-
sia and Turkey 1t is a covered litter
borne between two mules, and contain,
sliding doors and windows. 1t is ron
dcred reasonably comfortable by mat
u'esses on which person can lie at fun
length. The tachravan of the wealthy
is sometimes handsomely decorated
and mention is made of kings Of Persia
using It many centuries ago. But rem
orally this conveyance is more heayily
constructed than is necessary, owing 10
the difficulty OF finding wood which Is
ut once light and strong in Persia. The
march Of tachrayan is necessarily
tadiously slow, but it is announced fora
long distance by the strings of imgIme
bells carried by the gaylv decorated
mules, which do moi, however seem DO
appreciate the wealth and weight ofolna-
ment layished upon them. On Lowell
roads the tachtrayan is "a real luxury;
but whom there Is a steep ascent or de-
scent combined with bad roads. ihi,
form OF locomOtion lis not only very try
ing to the mules, bat is also "a severe
strain on tile rider, both on account of
the cNertion requisite in preserving hi,
position and the nervous strain caused
by watching the frequent peril of being
hurled over a preciplce. AT the head Of
the leading mule marched a. stately
Arab, Abdullah Ibn HaSsan. His gait
was that Of prince; he was six feet IN
height, sparely built and perfectly erect
a camel s-hair tunic reached to Tine
ankles. His head was mualed with
striped mantle bound around the fore
head with a white cord. His swar,hy
features were haggard but yet hand
some, and the dark Orbs which flashed
from under cayernous brows were
by proud and romanticmclan-
choly, deepening into glow OF injured
pride tingcd with sadness when hc WA,
refused q backShocsb, a5 if be would res
proach YOU for having disappointed the
he had reposed in your
generosity What a standard
is to IN army was this son of the desert
to Our humber train. lie gave to it
such u bearing chat he seemed to be the
chief person in it, instead of q poor
earning twenty cents day
the wastes OF an ancient
land, IA mule driver by dcsceu, ud
tl,. tt,.,. ,t t,,,I .1.;,-,.. .f tI.., f,,rr.