New-York tribune., 1902-09-06

Molesworth Sykes. Octave, pp. XIV. AL CAai400
Scr1bners Sons.
Like many English travellers who are more
travellers than literary men. Major Sykes has
conceived II necessary to describe every Gay
incidents In his travels, including the time oe-
voted to reaching the land OF his destination
His book is an important contribution 10 the
knowledge of Persia, its people and especla4lS
Of portions Of the country little visited oy EUiO
peans; but its reada biity would have been mum
enhanced by more subordination Of detall 10 'he
general effect. He travelled through many III
tie known parts Of the country, and MADE many
interesting and curious observations; MS a0-
count of his journeyings shows him to De d
jealous and enthusiastic traveller. undaunted
by obstacles and opposition On his nfst Nisi'
he entered Persia at Astrabad. near the Caspian
Sea. and iourneyed first through the country
of the IN,rkouans II was difficult and at times
dangerous travelling especially across the great
desert of Lut which Major Sykes connects Win
the name OF Lot. Herman, near It's soutIeIH
extremity, is Of the greatest cities OF elsi@-
The sterility strikes the European as appallihs'
and is increasing:
As the country becomes more settled the sup
pay of timber is gradually exhausted, NANNY oy
the charcoal burner-there is no coat-atu ' ~ .
are few ranges with anything approaching 70, 70 "a
forest Travelling il Soulheasl re- 20 20
generally implies marching in pltness g.! go
nlains are practically bare ana naked; the
weary wayfarer halls with enthusiasm any ~
tie spring, and even q stunteo Wil-o" oeeIlI~ .o
be thing Of beauty in such treeless eAFaiiSe'
The inhabitants Of Baluchistan are greeoy'
conceited, unwilling and unreasonaple as
camel" But they have their gooo qUa-i''e''
they are extremely honest:
7. tntrusted with valuahles or letters they VIII
defend them with their lives: also. they are
extreruely moral and treat their women !Iots
or less as equals. In fact, they have a Cote "a
honor, and generally live up 10 Il; ineE "a Of
eetv I. exernplified by the fact that q Dag o.
rupees containing the pay Of all the 1elesL spL
employes used 10 be sent along the Hhe. eaCa @
man in turn taking out his wages OnIy o1i.e
-n-as This confidence abused, and the thle1 nao 10
,esve the country, which is the heaviest OF pun
ishnents for a Baluchi
Mauy of Major Sykess wandertngs took MN
over the paths followed by some disungulsheo
nredeoessors among them being Alexander lhe
(reat and Marco Polo, and he has mace sOHe
interesting studies of their journeys ne was
indeed the first European to follow the looO-
stems Of the mighty Iskandar-i-RuIni' as AleA
ander is still known in Persia Al one o. MS
s,onping places an alabaster vase was brought
him. which one Of his servants purchased TOT
a. pair Of old trousers: and when he TOOK II u
she British Museum. it was pronounced to De OF
creek manufacture, dating from the 1ouFtn
century g. c. Il was. he thinks, undoubtedly a
relic of Alexanter's visit, and came from spot
where the Greek conqueror had formeo sCano-
ing camp He deyotes chapter TO Marco POLO
travels In Persia in which he traces step ny
step the great Venetians route so far as IL Is
possible to do SO; modern travel and invesuga-
tfon have cleared UP many doubtful points anu
helped in the Identification OF many Of the places
mentioned in Marco PoIos account Like
Herodotus his reracity is more and more con-
frrled by such study. One Of the most remark
able sights in Persia is the ruins OF FER
sepolis near Shiran. mementos of the might OF
Xerzes. Darius and Cyrus. remains Of vast and
imposing buildings The sculptured bulis sho"
their kinship with Assyrian art: and the eao-
orare hass-reliefs are eloquent Of the power OF
the King Of Kings. with their representations OF
peoples Of many nationauties coming with gifts
for him
Major Sykes established British consulate at
Herman. and in his residence there had op-
,ortunity TO study the character Of the Per
SLAMS The abuses heaped on the people py
travellers who do not know their language ne
considers quite unraerited- They are extremely
courteous and witty. and as rule hospitaole
Education is neglected. and. with teachers re-
ceivfng about the same salary as waiter, the
author calls it hardly surprising that they still
teach that London is the name Of q country
and that one Of its cities is the Atlantic Ocean
sian scheme Of things Parting with money.
however comes hard the Persians, as II
does with agriculturists in other lands. and
Major Sykes met with some amusing examples
OF meanness. One royal Governor. under con-
siderable obligation to European. had repeat
edly expressed his intention OF making him q
present:
One CAV a long string OF servants was seen
spproaching, headed by the princes steward
FvfA a
frav covered with a costly shawl was set down
When the covering was Withdrawn the slit was
displayed-two lettuces from MS nisnhess pri-
yate gardenl The fees amounted quite 10 IL
The game of polo was held In great esteem In
Persia before the dawn OF history down TO the
eighteenth century. though later 1t seems to
have nourished chiefly in India. We are given
some interesting glimpses Of II as described by
The early Persian poets and historians II is
mentioned in connection with Alexander the
Great: for when as youth. he succeeded his
father he received a gift of some of its imple-
rnents from the King Of Persia, as hint that
he should not occupy himself with anything
more serious The earliest English description
of the game is given by Sir Anthony Shirley. an
a6yenturer Of the time Of James i. who had IN
rratiated himself with the Shah Of the period
=, rhe troublous times when Persia was harried
hv Invaders and internal disorders the game
s5e6 out: and when Major Sykes took up his
abode in the capital with an outfit Of sticks and
halls he found that he had TO introduce polo
aSresh into its ancient home.
Masor sykes considers the Persians to be the
faes. and most gifted race in Western Asia.
In spite of the terrible corruption. which the gov
ernment is making efforts 20 suppress and in
.Y,.e Of the lack of education and Of the means
Of proeress afforded by roads and railways. In
Southern Persia at any rate. British prestige